Counterfeit currency found at the home of suspect in Uganda
An American citizen by the name of Ryan Gustafson has been arrested and charged with conspiracy and counterfeiting in Uganda.
The 27-year-old, believed to be leading a large international counterfeiting ring, had been using the money for several American businesses in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, which eventually traced the illegal act to a postal box nearby.
Authorities then traced the address postal box to Uganda, with a fingerprint leading them specifically to the culprit, Mr. Gustafson.
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The U.S. Secret Service, with assistance from the Ugandan government set up a fake undercover operation to purchase counterfeit currency from Mr. Gustafson.
Also found in suspect’s home are these pair of anon hands, used as gloves to mask fingerprints.
He was arrested, and during a search in his home, authorities discovered fake Ugandan shillings, Congolese francs, Ghanaian cedis, Indian rupess, and euros. It is estimated that he flooded the market with nearly $2 million in counterfeit currencies.
A U.S. Citizen from Texas, Mr. Gustafson faces 25 years in prison.
In a statement US Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania David Hickton, said “We will hold cyber criminals accountable and bring them to justice no matter where they reside.”
