Two Plead Guilty In Counterfeiting Case

Two people pleaded guilty to counterfeiting-related charges in federal court on Thursday.

The change-of-plea hearings were held by U.S. District Court Judge Scott Skaavdahl in Casper.

Wyatt T. McMahon of Sheridan pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to counterfeiting and forging obligations or securities of the United States.

McMahon told Skavdahl that on July 15, 2013, he downloaded pictures of $100 bills and printed 15 of them.

Skavdahl told him the maximum penalty was not more than 20 years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and payment of restitution.

However, the plea agreement reached by prosecutors and his defense probably will be much less than that.

Based on the factors considered in the federal sentencing guidelines, prison time could be between 18 and 24 months, or between 24 and 30 months, Skavdahl said. Skavdahl will determine the sentence after reviewing the presentence report, he said.

Earlier Thursday, McMahon's co-defendant Amanda Buell of Buffalo pleaded guilty to passing some of those counterfeit bills at a liquor store in Buffalo.

The penalty for that crime is the same as for Wyatt's crime of conspiracy to counterfeit money. However, court records did not indicate what her prison time, if any, would be.

Wyatt remains in custody.

Buell is free on $10,000 bond.