A Canadian man arrested in February 2013 has been sentenced and fined $2,500 for counterfeiting of U.S. currency.
On January 28, 2013, Cook County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Greg Genz responded to a report of counterfeit currency used to buy lottery tickets at Ryden’s Gas Station in Grand Portage. After speaking with storeowner Mike Ryden, it was determined that a customer had purchased $20 worth of lottery tickets using a counterfeit $100 bill. The customer, Edward Fukushima, 59, of Thunder Bay, Ontario, also used a credit card to pay for gas.
Fukushima’s name and vehicle information was reported to U.S. Customs and Border Patrol to ensure that Fukushima was flagged for a secondary search if he attempted to cross the border again. On February 15, Fukushima was stopped at the Pigeon River border and searched. In his possession was $500 worth of counterfeit $100 bills. At least one bill had the same serial number as the one used at Ryden’s Gas Station.
Fukushima was arrested and charged with two counts of possessing and/or utterance of counterfeit U.S. currency, with the potential penalty of one year incarceration and/or $3,000 fine.
On February 19, 2013, Cook County Attorney Tim Scannell offered to dismiss one count if Fukushima pled guilty to the other. Scannell also offered a stay of imposition. The stay of imposition meant that the court would accept the guilty plea, but would not impose a sentence unless Fukushima failed to follow the conditions of the stay. If Fukushima pled guilty and accepted the stay and then violated the conditions, he would be brought back to the United States and could face significant jail time.
Fukushima was released on $7,500 bail and participated in a number of hearings, including the scheduling of a jury trial in June 2013 which was cancelled. On November 11, 2013, Fukushima entered a guilty plea and on December 10, 2013, was convicted of one charge of counterfeiting. The second charge was dismissed.
Fukushima must complete 360 days of probation, complete chemical dependency evaluation, and pay a fine of $2,500.
Leave a Reply