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Tampa Man Pleads Guilty To Selling Counterfeit Cash

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By ELAINE SILVESTRINI | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 22, 2009

TAMPA - A 22-year-old Tampa man pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court this morning to selling counterfeit money to an undercover Secret Service agent.

Angel Velazquez faces up to 20 years in federal prison for making the counterfeit bills on a photocopy machine and selling more than $10,000 worth to the agent. Velazquez was working with another man, Leonel Alonso, 43, who also has pleaded guilty.

In July, a confidential informant told agents the two suspects had provided him with counterfeit currency and identification documents, including a birth certificate and Social Security card from Puerto Rico, according to a prosecution court filing.

The court document was read during Velazquez's guilty plea hearing, and he agreed it was accurate.

On July 16, Alonso and Velazquez sold the informant $230 in counterfeit bills, in $50s and $20s.

The next day, the two men sold the same amount of currency to undercover agents. On July 18, they sold the agents $10,600 in counterfeit currency and offered to sell them guns.

Reporter Elaine Silvestrini can be reached at (813) 259-7837 or esilvestrini@tampatrib.com.

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