Bethany Man Charged with Manufacturing Counterfeit Currency

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – On February 23, 2016, DANIEL JOHNSON, of Bethany, Oklahoma, was charged by complaint in the Western District of Oklahoma with manufacturing counterfeit currency.

According to an affidavit in support of the complaint, U.S. Secret Service agents obtained a search warrant for a commercial office in west Oklahoma City on February 19, 2016.  Among other things, agents had learned that nineteen discarded stainless steel plates with faded images of Federal Reserve notes had been discovered in a dumpster near the office.  When they executed the search warrant, they found an industrial printing press, ink, and plates designed to stamp sheets of counterfeited currency together.  They also found personal mail addressed to Johnson, who had been under investigation for counterfeiting for several months.

Johnson’s initial appearance took place today before United States Magistrate Judge Shon Erwin.

The crime of manufacturing counterfeit currency carries a maximum penalty of twenty years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000.

"The Secret Service is committed to protecting our financial system and preserving the integrity of U.S. currency," said Joseph Slawinski, Assistant to the Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge.  “The Secret Service appreciates the support of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, IRS-Criminal Investigations, Homeland Security Investigations, FBI, Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the Oklahoma City Police Department, the Moore Police Department, the Norman Police Department, and the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs for their assistance, as well as numerous other law enforcement partners who work in cooperation with the Oklahoma City Economic and Identity Crimes Task Force throughout the state of Oklahoma.”

Reference is made to the complaint and other public filings for further information.  The complaint is only an allegation and is not evidence of guilt.  A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial, at which the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. 

This case is the result of an investigation by the Oklahoma City Economic and Identity Crimes Task Force, which is hosted by the United States Secret Service.  It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles W. Brown.