United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

WINDSOR MAN WHO MANUFACTURD FALSE U.S. CURRENCY ON HIS COMPUTER IS SENTENCED

Kevin J. O’Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that DWIGHT J. BENJAMIN, 24, of Winterwood Road, Windsor, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Alvin W. Thompson in Hartford to approximately nine months of imprisonment, time already served, followed by three years of supervised release.  On June 13, 2007, BENJAMIN pleaded guilty to one count of manufacturing counterfeit obligations.

According to documents filed with the Court and statements made in court, from April 2004 to February 2005, BENJAMIN, using his own computer, manufactured 80 $100 Federal Reserve Notes and 371 $10 Federal Reserve Notes.  The counterfeit obligations were manufactured for the purpose of being passed by BENJAMIN and others in retail establishments in and around Hartford and, specifically, to purchase items of minimal cost at the establishments so as to receive change in real U.S. currency.

In order to conceal the counterfeiting operation from family members, on two occasions BENJAMIN transported his computer and related components to a hotel room in Wethersfield for the purpose of manufacturing the counterfeit currency.

BENJAMIN also has served approximately 13 months of imprisonment on state forgery charges related to the underlying conduct in this federal case.

This matter was investigated by the United States Secret Service and the Windsor, Enfield and Bloomfield Police Departments.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Deborah R. Slater.

CONTACT:

U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722
thomas.carson@usdoj.gov