$1B dollar notes...
AJ2525
Posts: 477
...nabbed by police BEFORE he could get them to EBay.
Enjoy!
Fake $1B Bank Notes Found in Apartment
From Associated Press
March 14, 2006 10:32 PM EST
LOS ANGELES - Federal authorities investigating a man who smuggled money into the country have seized 250 counterfeit bank notes in billion-dollar denominations, they announced Tuesday.
The 250 bogus Federal Reserve notes had 1934 issue dates and were stained to make them look old, but no such currency exists, said U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokeswoman Virginia Kice.
Federal authorities have not charged the man, Tekle Zigetta, in connection with the counterfeit notes, but warned that the sale or transfer of fake securities has increased in recent years. Scam artists typically sell phony government bank notes at a discounted value or use them as collateral to secure loans or make purchases.
"A billion is a substantial number, we want to ensure that no one was duped or fleeced by the passing of these documents," Kice said. "We also want to publicize this story to see if anyone out there has additional information to help us build a case."
Authorities opened an investigation into alleged currency smuggling by Zigetta in 2002 when he arrived at Los Angeles International Airport with $37,000 in undeclared cash following a trip to South Korea.
Zigetta, 45, returned to South Korea during the probe, and was indicted in December on one count each of bulk cash smuggling, failure to declare more than $10,000 in cash, and making a false statement to federal authorities, Kice said.
He was arrested at Los Angeles International in January after federal agents used a ruse to lure him back to California, said Kice, who declined to discuss the methods agents used.
He remains jailed after pleading guilty Monday to the three counts and agreed to forfeit the $37,000 he smuggled into the country, said U.S. Assistant Attorney Vince Farhat. He faces up to 15 years in federal prison when he's sentenced on June 5.
The investigation led agents to a West Hollywood apartment on Friday, where they found the billion-dollar notes and several counterfeit financial instruments, Kice said.
An elderly couple who lived in the apartment told agents they kept the bills and equipment for Zigetta while he was abroad, and said they thought the notes were authentic, Kice said.
"You would think the $1 billion denomination would be a giveaway that these notes are fake, but some people are still taken in," James Todak, deputy special agent in charge for the Secret Service in Los Angeles, said in a statement.
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Enjoy!
Fake $1B Bank Notes Found in Apartment
From Associated Press
March 14, 2006 10:32 PM EST
LOS ANGELES - Federal authorities investigating a man who smuggled money into the country have seized 250 counterfeit bank notes in billion-dollar denominations, they announced Tuesday.
The 250 bogus Federal Reserve notes had 1934 issue dates and were stained to make them look old, but no such currency exists, said U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokeswoman Virginia Kice.
Federal authorities have not charged the man, Tekle Zigetta, in connection with the counterfeit notes, but warned that the sale or transfer of fake securities has increased in recent years. Scam artists typically sell phony government bank notes at a discounted value or use them as collateral to secure loans or make purchases.
"A billion is a substantial number, we want to ensure that no one was duped or fleeced by the passing of these documents," Kice said. "We also want to publicize this story to see if anyone out there has additional information to help us build a case."
Authorities opened an investigation into alleged currency smuggling by Zigetta in 2002 when he arrived at Los Angeles International Airport with $37,000 in undeclared cash following a trip to South Korea.
Zigetta, 45, returned to South Korea during the probe, and was indicted in December on one count each of bulk cash smuggling, failure to declare more than $10,000 in cash, and making a false statement to federal authorities, Kice said.
He was arrested at Los Angeles International in January after federal agents used a ruse to lure him back to California, said Kice, who declined to discuss the methods agents used.
He remains jailed after pleading guilty Monday to the three counts and agreed to forfeit the $37,000 he smuggled into the country, said U.S. Assistant Attorney Vince Farhat. He faces up to 15 years in federal prison when he's sentenced on June 5.
The investigation led agents to a West Hollywood apartment on Friday, where they found the billion-dollar notes and several counterfeit financial instruments, Kice said.
An elderly couple who lived in the apartment told agents they kept the bills and equipment for Zigetta while he was abroad, and said they thought the notes were authentic, Kice said.
"You would think the $1 billion denomination would be a giveaway that these notes are fake, but some people are still taken in," James Todak, deputy special agent in charge for the Secret Service in Los Angeles, said in a statement.
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Some call it an accumulation not a collection
0
Comments
Me: Ummm...twenties and billions would be fine. Thanks.
to a major coin show with out a
couple billion in his pants.
Camelot
<< <i>An elderly couple who lived in the apartment told agents they kept the bills and equipment for Zigetta while he was abroad, and said they thought the notes were authentic, Kice said. >>
And what nursing home have they been sent to? Sure doesn't everone who has 250 BILLION dollars in cash give it ro some for safe keepig while they are away. Whose two need someone to be taking care of them.
As far as the currency smuggling charges it sounds like that is what they need to concentrate on. I wouldn't even worry about the Billion dollar bills.
<< <i>The 250 bogus Federal Reserve notes had 1934 issue dates and were stained to make them look old, but no such currency exists, >>
If no such currency exists then are they counterfeits (illegal) or fantasies (legal). I'd say fantasies.
<< <i>Scam artists typically sell phony government bank notes at a discounted value or use them as collateral to secure loans or make purchases. >>
True, but that is with actual counterfeit currency of legitimate denominations.
<< <i>"A billion is a substantial number, >>
No kidding
<< <i>we want to ensure that no one was duped or fleeced by the passing of these documents >>
And just where would you "pass" a billion dollar note? Deposit in the bank maybe, but no bank or business could possibly make change for it. Probably not even a federal reserve bank.
If I were he, I would sue to have them returned. They are not counterfeits since billion dollar notes never existed; thus, they are legal to own.
just remember this story.
The name is LEE!
<< <i>All in all though, I can't help but wonder what he was going to do with those "billion" dollar notes.
I hear he was going to buy gas for his SUV later on in the day...
~g
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