Couple pleads not guilty to counterfeiting
Published 9:07 am Thursday, July 7, 2011
The Albert Lea couple charged in June as part of an alleged counterfeit ring pleaded not guilty in Freeborn County District Court on Tuesday to their charges.
Travis Allen Cameron, 31, and Heather Ann Cameron, 34, both pleaded not guilty to manufacturing counterfeit currency.
They will be scheduled for jury trials.
The two are believed to be involved with a group operating a scheme of manufacturing, passing and dealing counterfeit money in southern Minnesota, including the cities of Faribault, Owatonna, Albert Lea, Mankato, Northfield, Dundas, Austin, Eagan and Burnsville.
The operation allegedly involved washing mainly $5 bills and turning them into $100 bills. The bills would pass checks with a counterfeit pen.
Court documents state the Camerons and others allegedly involved would make small-dollar purchases at various retail businesses with the counterfeit bills in exchange for large amounts of change in genuine currency.
Freeborn County District Court Judge Steve Schwab on Tuesday ordered that each pay $100,000 unconditional bail or $50,000 conditional bail before being released from jail. Conditions to follow include no alcohol or controlled substance use, no possession of drugs or alcohol, complying with random testing, submitting to random searches and signing a waiver of extradition, among other conditions.
According to online court records, both Travis and Heather Cameron posted non-cash bonds and have since been released from the Freeborn County Jail.
Their next court dates have not yet been scheduled.
Manufacturing counterfeit U.S. currency carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $100,000 fine.