A new law that goes into effect later this month will help crack down on criminals who circulate counterfeit cash.
News Center 7’s Gabrielle Enright got a look firsthand at about $165,000 in fake bills confiscated in the Dayton region by local law enforcement and the U.S. Secret Service.
“This is a very small portion,” agent Kevin Dye said of the phony money. “Last year, the Secret Service collected $1.5 million in counterfeit money — this is just from the Dayton area.”
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That’s one of the reasons state Rep. Rick Perales, R-Beavercreek, of the 73rd District said he sponsored the bill creating the criminal offense of counterfeiting in the Ohio Revised Code.
“Counterfeiters used to come to Dayton and Ohio because they knew they could get away with it. That’s not going to happen anymore. They will be prosecuted for what they do,” he said.
Counterfeit cash causes losses for local businesses.
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And, there’s another big issue with counterfeit cash.
“It’s almost always connected to narcotics,” Dye said.
Each counterfeit bill confiscated has its serial number recorded and logged into a database. Then it’s shredded.
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The Secret Service expects more bills will be shredded now that law enforcement officers will finally have the power to crack down on those who create or knowingly use counterfeit bills.
“Right now this law is the most comprehensive and appropriate law at the state level in the United States,” Dye said.
The new law goes into effect Jan. 20.
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