Posted on 03/14/2006 8:15:05 PM PST by TFFKAMM
Federal authorities investigating a man who smuggled money into the country have seized 250 counterfeit bank notes in billion-dollar denominations, they announced Tuesday.
The 250 bogus Federal Reserve notes had 1934 issue dates and were stained to make them look old, but no such currency exists, said U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokeswoman Virginia Kice.
Federal authorities have not charged the man, Tekle Zigetta, in connection with the counterfeit notes, but warned that the sale or transfer of fake securities has increased in recent years. Scam artists typically sell phony government bank notes at a discounted value or use them as collateral to secure loans or make purchases.
"A billion is a substantial number, we want to ensure that no one was duped or fleeced by the passing of these documents," Kice said. "We also want to publicize this story to see if anyone out there has additional information to help us build a case."
Authorities opened an investigation into alleged currency smuggling by Zigetta in 2002 when he arrived at Los Angeles International Airport with $37,000 in undeclared cash following a trip to South Korea.
Zigetta, 45, returned to South Korea during the probe, and was indicted in December on one count each of bulk cash smuggling, failure to declare more than $10,000 in cash, and making a false statement to federal authorities, Kice said.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
If he'd been quicker-witted, he probably would have!
Just go down to the 7-11 and fill up the tank, there should be a little change left over.
I don't see the crime here at all.
What if someone wanted to make fake bills in the amount of $16.71 and put the image of the Mad magazine boy in the middle of the front? That can't be illegal, either.
I remember purchasing $3 bills as a joke bill in my youth. Everyone knew they were fake, but they were funny. I didn't realize they were somehow illegal.
That is totally bogus.
He even sounds as queer as a billion dollar bill.
In the 1920's in Germany, they used to say that.
Billion-dollar banknotes? Where was he going to use them -- the local 7-11?
Your bill is clearly phony -- I have the real $3 bill, which has Bill Clinton's face on it, not his wife's.
I gave my brother a check for $20 and he asked me if I had any Id.
Nigerian?
roflmao
I have a $3 'Bill' with the Slickmeister on it.
Tough love, tough love. I tell you, no respect at all.
Don't tell anyone, give me a chance to move them first!
Tekle Zigetta letters used as a cryptogram give 4 possible phrases:
Order Sunroof
Order Sunroom
Order Taproom
Order Gunroom
I dont know what this means, but found it interesting.
Better inquire down at the local 7-11.
IIRC, it did work in dollar bill changers at the time. The US Treasury or USSS confiscated the plates for that particular
page, or so the story went.
I took a tour of the FBI eons ago. I believe they had some cancelled $100,000 bills on display. If not the 100K notes, they were $10,000 bills.
A billion'd buy you a BAHOG.
What was that worth in USD during that time......5 cents??? LOL!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.