PENNSYLVANIA – A federal grand jury in Pittsburgh indicted four suspects who operated a counterfeit ring that used a website, “Community X,” to manufacture, sell, buy and distribute counterfeit bills, officials announced last week.
The indictment handed down Wednesday alleges more than $1.4 million in counterfeit money has been seized and passed worldwide, both overseas and in the U.S. as part of this scheme.
The purchase of a cup of coffee with a $100 counterfeit bill at a Peets Coffee and Tea store in Pittsburgh lead to the arrests in U.S. and Uganda, officials stated.
The indictment, returned on Wednesday, names the following defendants:
- Ryan Andrew Gustafson, 27, aka “Jack Farrel” aka “Willy Clock,” a U.S. citizen from Texas currently incarcerated in Kampala, Uganda,
- Jeremy J. Miller, 30, aka “Sinner,” of Seattle, Washington
- Zackary L. Ruiz, 18, aka “Mr. Mouse,” of Las Vegas, Nevad
- Michael Q. Lin, 20, aka “Mlin” aka “Mr. Casino,” of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
The four were charged with conspiracy and counterfeiting acts from December 2013 until December 2014.
“Today we announce the dismantling of an international cyber conspiracy in which Ugandan-made counterfeit Federal Reserve Notes were being advertised, bought and sold through online criminal forums then passed in coffee shops and corner stores in neighborhoods across our country,” said U.S. Attorney David Hickton last week.
Adding, “Working cooperatively with law enforcement partners in the U.S. and abroad, we were able to quickly infiltrate and disrupt this counterfeit trafficking network and limit losses.”
According to the indictment, these are the facts and circumstances surrounding this case:
- In late December 2013, Gustafson created his own dark web website called Community-X, which was dedicated to the manufacturing, selling, buying, distribution and passing of counterfeit Federal Reserve Notes (FRNs), which he claimed to have manufactured.
- The website contained forums where members discussed the counterfeit bills and shared tips on how best to pass, ship and distribute counterfeit FRNs.
- In September 2014, Gustafson redesigned this website into two different sites, a Community-X HQ site, with controlled access and a Community-X Recruitment Center site, which was accessible to the public.
- Gustafson, Ruiz and Miller were active members of both sites. Lin was only a member of the Recruitment Site.
- Gustafson and others allegedly sold these counterfeit money to purchasers in the U.S. From December 2013 through February 2014, an associate of Gustafson sent DHL packages containing these counterfeit FRNs to individuals in the U.S.
- After February 2014, Gustafson had the counterfeit FRNs smuggled into the U.S. by hiding the counterfeit FRNs in glued together pages of fake charity pamphlets.
The indictment alleges that Ruiz, Miller and Lin had varied levels of roles and responsibilities as participants in the conspiracy.
In particular, the indictment alleges that Ruiz and others unpacked the counterfeit money, that Ruiz, Miller and others treated the counterfeit to prepare them for passing .
They used the U.S. Postal Service to mail the money to re-shippers and to purchasers. Lin was a purchaser of the FRNs, who offered a guide on how to pass the counterfeit notes through casinos.
The indictment alleges more than $1.4 million in counterfeit has been seized and passed worldwide, both overseas and in the U.S. as part of this scheme.
Gustafson was charged by Ugandan authorities on Dec. 16 with conspiracy, possession of counterfeit, selling/dealing in counterfeit and unlawful possession of ammunition.
He is presently on trial in Uganda on their charges.
All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.