3 Are Indicted in Counterfeiting Scheme

A Chula Vista man who allegedly printed fake money, even bills as small as $1, was indicted Wednesday on a counterfeiting charge along with two other people, a federal prosecutor said.

Alan Jeffrey Hill, 29, a graphics artist, was indicted on one count of counterfeiting money, Assistant U.S. Atty. David L. Katz said.

Indicted with Hill were Brad Charles Shoemaker, 34, and Clara Acs, 41, who were arrested Dec. 22 with $12,395 in phony bills at a Chula Vista motel, Katz said.

Shoemaker and Acs are both charged with conspiring to possess counterfeit bills and with possessing fake bills, Katz said.

When San Diego police and Secret Service agents, acting on an informer’s tip, arrested Shoemaker and Acs, the agents found plates and negatives for printing money, Katz said, adding that 263 $5 bills, 393 $20 bills and 23 $100 bills, all fake, were found. Officers also found 46 bogus $20 notes in Acs’ purse, Katz said.

Officers then traced the bills and plates to Hill, who worked at a San Diego print shop, Katz said, adding that prosecutors contend Hill printed the phony money on his own time. Hill also was arrested Dec. 22, and is free on $50,000 bail.

“What makes this case unusual is the number of denominations printed,” Katz said. “It is far more common for counterfeiters to specialize in one or two different denominations.”

Secret Service agents had recently noticed counterfeit bills around San Diego in small denominations. Authorities have no idea of the total of fake money that may have been passed.

If convicted, Hill could be sentenced to 15 years in prison and fined $5,000, Katz said. Shoemaker and Acs could be given 15 years in prison and $10,000 on each count, or a total of 30 years in prison and $20,000 apiece.

Shoemaker and Acs remained at the federal Metropolitan Correctional Center downtown, Katz said. Bail is $200,000 for Shoemaker, $50,000 for Acs, Katz said.