Careless Counterfeiter Convicted

A Reno man pleaded guilty in federal court to using his home computer and printers to produce nearly $30,000 in counterfeit money. 54-year-old William Griffin pleaded guilty to one count of possession of counterfeit obligations of the United States before Federal Judge Miranda Du. Sentencing is scheduled for December. The maximum statutory penalty is 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The man’s landlord says Griffin tried to pay his rent with counterfeit bills in the past, and he found a stack of counterfeit bills in the room, including a bill in the printer tray. Griffin has a prior felony conviction for burglary in Carson City.