Wednesday, March 7, 2007 10:18 PM CST
Four EIU students charged with making, passing counterfeit bills
By the JG/T-C
editorial@jg-tc.com
CHARLESTON -- A federal grand jury returned an indictment Wednesday charging four Eastern Illinois University students with conspiracy to make and pass more than $1,500 in counterfeit money.
Those charged are Gavin J. Groves, 19, of Olney; Benjamin T. Inman, 19, of Paris; Kyle E. Pittman, 19, of Newton; and David M. Skubic, 19, of Wilmington, according to a press release from Rodger A. Heaton, U.S. Attorney for the Central District of Illinois. All four are listed as students on the EIU Web site.
The indictment alleges the four purchased paper at Wal-Mart and used a color copier/printer at an EIU residence hall to make color copies of $20 bills. The men then allegedly cut each counterfeit note from the paper and rubbed lotion into the counterfeit notes to make them appear more genuine.
The indictment also charges that the four agreed to pass the counterfeit bills and to split among themselves the money received as change.
The indictment alleges that more than $1,000 in counterfeit bills was passed from Nov. 27 through Nov. 30, mostly at fast-food restaurants in Charleston, Mattoon, Paris and Marshall, as well as in Terre Haute, Ind.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Secret Service and local police departments in Paris, Charleston, Mattoon and Marshall; the Eastern Illinois University Police Department; and the Terre Haute Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eugene L. Miller is prosecuting the case.
Summonses will be issued for the defendants to make their initial appearances in federal court in Urbana.
If convicted, the each of the men faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for conspiracy to manufacture and pass counterfeit U.S. currency, and 20 years for the manufacture and passing counterfeit U.S. currency.
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