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SALT LAKE CITY — Federal authorities arrested a suspected counterfeiter after he allegedly arranged to sell an undercover agent $40,000 in bogus bills.
Homeland Security and the Secret Service started investigating Layne Jones, 24, of Kearns, after receiving information in May that he was allegedly making fake currency.
An undercover agent last month met with Jones who showed him samples of his work, according to a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court. Jones told the agent he could pass $20 bills all day long and usually makes 20s and 10s, the complaint says. He said he used them at gas stations, movie theaters and taco stands.
The agent placed an order for $40,000 in counterfeit bills and offered to pay Jones $6,000.
On Wednesday, Jones delivered $24,400 in fake money to the agent, according to the complaint. He told the agent he tested each batch of 50s, 20s and 10s at Smith's, Big Lots, Taco Bell, McDonald's and even used the bills to buy ink cartridges to finish the order.
Jones told the agent he made the bills by himself for the most part, with a little help from his girlfriend, the complaint says.
Federal prosecutors charged Jones with dealing in counterfeit obligations and securities. He is being held in custody pending arraignment in court later this month.
