Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Virginia Hernandez Covington has sentenced Anthony Wayne Smith (58, Bradenton) to 18 months in federal prison for manufacturing counterfeit currency. The Court also ordered Smith to forfeit a firearm and ammunition found during a search of his house. Smith had pleaded guilty on January 14, 2022.
According to the plea agreement, Smith manufactured U.S. Federal Reserve notes at his home in Bradenton. During the execution of a search warrant at Smith’s residence, law enforcement officers recovered, among other things, a large quantity of counterfeit notes hidden throughout the residence, texturized printing paper, and printers. Additionally, Smith’s laptop computer contained digital images of U.S. Federal Reserve notes that had been used in the production and manufacture of counterfeit currency.
This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David W.A. Chee.