MADISON, WIS. Jeffrey M. Anderson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Parish Barbary-Wheatherby, 21, Madison, Wis., was sentenced today to three years of probation by U.S. District Judge William Conley for his role in passing counterfeit U.S. currency at numerous merchants in southern Wisconsin. Barbary-Wheatherby pleaded guilty to this charge on Jan. 27, 2017.
Judge Conley also ordered Barbary-Wheatherby to pay $4,600 in restitution to businesses victimized by the counterfeit bills during the time he participated in the scheme.
During January 2016, Barbary-Wheatherby and four other individuals from Madison traveled in groups to various cities from Baraboo to Janesville, passing counterfeit $100 bills at restaurants and merchants. The group would make small-dollar purchases for which they would present the fake $100 bills in order to receive a large amount of change in legitimate currency from the merchants. Barbary-Wheatherby withdrew from the group in late January 2016, and the four other members of the group were apprehended on Feb. 23, 2016 by Janesville police officers during one such shopping spree when they responded to merchant reports of the suspicious bills.
Barbary-Wheatherbys co-defendants were sentenced as follows:
Dominique Gaunichaux, 19, was sentenced April 6 to eight months in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay $7,500 in restitution to the victimized merchants, jointly and severally with his other co-defendants.
Cornelius Stewart, 22, was sentenced on February 23 to 24 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and joint restitution of $7,500 with the co-defendants.
Danesha Phillips, 23, was sentenced March 21 to 42 days in prison with credit for time served, followed by two years of supervised release, and joint restitution of $7,500 with the co-defendants.
Marlo Phillips, 19, Madison, was sentenced March 21 to one year time served, followed by two years of supervised release. and joint restitution of $7,500 with the co-defendants. Danesha Phillips and Marlo Phillips are sister and brother.
The charges in this case were the result of an investigation conducted by the Madison, Baraboo, Stoughton, Verona, Oregon, Fitchburg, Lake Delton, and Janesville Police Departments, as well as the Sauk County and Rock County Sheriffs Offices, all in coordination with the U.S. Secret Service. The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert A. Anderson.
--DOJ Western District of Wisconsin
Source: U.S. Secret Service