(WNY News Now) – A Buffalo resident has been sentenced to 24 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo for his role in a counterfeiting scheme. He was convicted of conspiring to falsely make and pass counterfeit federal reserve notes.
Buffalo – U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross revealed that Eric M. Butson, a Buffalo resident, has been handed a 24-month prison sentence by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo for his involvement in a counterfeiting operation. Butson, along with co-defendant Catalina Hernandez, engaged in a conspiracy to manufacture and circulate counterfeit $100 bills.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul E. Bonanno, who managed the case, outlined the events that unfolded between December 2022 and March 2023. During this period, Butson and Hernandez were found in possession of a range of tools and equipment essential for creating counterfeit currency. These tools included computers, ink-jet printers, ink, and bleach. Exploiting these resources, the duo produced a significant number of fake $100 bills.
The illicitly manufactured bills, totaling approximately 67, were then distributed or attempted to be passed off at various businesses across different locations, including the City of Buffalo, the Town of Amherst, the Town of Clarence, and the Village of Orchard Park. The cumulative impact of these activities, combining both actual losses and intended losses, is estimated to be around $6,700.
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