United States Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan announced today, August 9, 2006, that Tiffany Wilson of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on a charge of Conspiracy to Manufacture and Pass Counterfeit Checks.
The one-count indictment named Wilson, age 35, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
According to the indictment presented to the Court, Wilson participated in a conspiracy with other individuals, in which she manufactured approximately forty counterfeit checks, totaling in excess of $20,000 and provided those checks to other individuals to pass. Also, as part of the conspiracy, Wilson is charged with passing a counterfeit check and possessing approximately fourteen other counterfeit checks.
Assistant United States Attorney Brendan T. Conway, who presented the case to the grand jury, indicated that the law provides for a maximum total sentence of five years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
The Financial Crimes Task Force of Southwestern Pennsylvania conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case. The Financial Crimes Task Force of Southwestern Pennsylvania is comprised of United States Postal Inspectors, Special Agents of the United States Secret Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Investigators from the Allegheny County District Attorney's Office, and Detectives from Allegheny County and the City of Pittsburgh.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
