Three plead guilty to federal counterfeit charges

Three people accused in the October counterfeiting ring that struck a handful of Southeast Missouri businesses changed their pleas to guilty Tuesday.

Darius Robinson, Jessica Gross and Brynet Trice pleaded guilty to charges linked to the ring, including manufacturing and using phony bills at retail stores in Cape Girardeau, Dexter, Poplar Bluff and Sikeston.

Robinson, 23, pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting in the production of counterfeit currency and passing counterfeit currency with the intent to defraud. Both counts have penalties of up to 20 years in prison and up to $250,000 in fines.

"I manufactured some money," Robinson told federal judge Carol Jackson.

On Oct. 6, Robinson used fake $20 bills at Finish Line and Champs, clothing stores at West Park Mall in Cape Girardeau, according to court documents.

Robinson's attorney, Scott Tilsen, was not present at the hearing Tuesday and could not be reached at his office.

Trice and Gross pleaded guilty to publishing and using fake $10 bills at a Walmart in Poplar Bluff on Oct. 6. Gross, 25, also pleaded guilty to passing fake money at JD's Quick Stop in Poplar Bluff.

When asked by Jackson to describe what she did, Gross said she had been "passing counterfeit money."

Gross' attorney, Patrick McMenamin, declined to comment after the hearing.

Trice, 20, also pleaded guilty to passing $20 bills at Goody's clothing store in Sikeston, a Save-A-Lot grocery store in Dexter and a Buffalo Wild Wings in Sikeston on Oct. 6.

Each charge carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison and up to $250,000 in fines, but federal prosecutor Paul Hahn may submit a motion for a downward departure from the sentencing guidelines because of a cooperation provision in Trice's plea deal.

Trice has offered to assist the government, and if Hahn feels that her assistance was substantial, he will submit a motion for a lesser sentence. Trice has yet to provide assistance, according to the plea deal.

Although Hahn may submit the motion, its approval is not guaranteed, Jackson said.

Hahn declined to comment on the hearing Tuesday afternoon.

Gross and Robinson were remanded to the custody of the Bureau of Prisons after the hearing, while Trice was able to go free because she had posted bail and had not violated any of its conditions.

Trice's attorney, Rebecca Reed, declined to comment.

Robinson, Gross and Trice will be sentenced May 21.

The counterfeit ring's other two suspects, Darius Lankford and Terry Hester, pleaded not guilty Tuesday.

Hester and Lankford are charged with publishing and using fake $20 bills at Goody's clothing store in Sikeston, a Save-A-Lot grocery store in Dexter and a Buffalo Wild Wings in Sikeston on Oct. 6.

Hester also is accused of publishing and using fake $20 bills at Champs with Robinson on Oct. 5, and of passing fake $10 bills with Trice, Gross and Lankford at a Walmart in Poplar Bluff on Oct. 6.

Lankford will be back in court March 16, and Hester will be back March 19.

psullivan@semissourian.com

388-3635

Pertinent address:

499 Independence St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.

3049 William St. Cape Girardeau, Mo.

333 S. Westwood Blvd., Poplar Bluff, Mo.

912 W. Business US Highway 60, Dexter, Mo.

1209 S. Main St., Sikeston, Mo.

231 N. Main St., Sikeston, Mo.