Florida man found guilty of manufacturing counterfeit bills

FLORIDA — A Florida man has been found guilty of manufacturing and aiding in the passing of counterfeit money throughout north Florida, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida has announced.

United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced that Derrick Kamran Collins, 31, of Spring Hill, has been found guilty of manufacturing counterfeit Federal Reserve Notes (FRN), aiding and abetting the passing of counterfeit FRN, and possession of counterfeit FRN. He faces up to 20 years in federal prison on each count and forfeiture of funds that represent the illicit proceeds from the offenses.

According to court documents, from 2017 to March 2019, Collins acted as the source of supply for counterfeit FRN for various individuals throughout the Middle District of Florida. Collins was reportedly part of a scheme to pass the counterfeit FRN to defraud businesses.

After successfully passing counterfeit FRN at businesses, individuals would pay Collins a portion of the proceeds, said the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida (USAO).

On March 26, 2019, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) said it conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle that contained multiple people, including Collins, at the River City Marketplace shopping center for suspicion of passing counterfeit FRN. During a search of the vehicle, officers said they recovered multiple counterfeit $100 FRN throughout the vehicle and in the glove box.

Subsequently, law enforcement reportedly was able to determine Collins as the source of supply for the counterfeit FRN that were passed by various individuals in the north Florida area, including at the River City Marketplace.

On November 21, 2019, the New Port Richey Police Department (NPRPD) said it conducted a traffic stop on a Dodge Charger driven by the registered owner, Collins. Upon making contact with Collins, law enforcement said they observed signs of impairment. During a subsequent DUI investigation, Collins reportedly refused to participate in field sobriety exercises and was arrested for DUI.

During an inventory search before towing the vehicle from the area, the NPRPD said it located several sheets of counterfeit $100 bills in various stages of manufacturing in the trunk of the vehicle, and computer media. In the vehicle’s glove box, officers said they located completed counterfeit FRN and illicit proceeds from the passing of counterfeit FRN, bundled together.

This prosecution was part of a long-term investigation into counterfeit FRN being passed in the areas of New Port Richey and north Florida. To date, Collins is the fourth individual prosecuted in connection with this activity.

This case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the New Port Richey Police Department, and the United States Secret Service – Jacksonville Field Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein. The forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United States Mai Tran.