Oacoma, SD — The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Dakota announced on January 13, 2025, that three men involved in a counterfeit currency scheme have been sentenced for their crimes.
Sonny Chao, 36, of Oacoma, South Dakota, was sentenced to seven and a half years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Chao was the primary figure behind the operation, which used electronic images and a process to create counterfeit $100 Federal Reserve notes. He admitted to printing counterfeit bills between November 2023 and March 2024 and circulating them across businesses in central South Dakota.
Anthony Martinez, 24, and Gino Martinez, 21, both from Chamberlain, South Dakota, played a role in the scheme by helping Chao pass the counterfeit bills at various businesses. Anthony Martinez was sentenced to one month in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release. Gino Martinez, who was less involved, received a sentence of two years of probation.
As part of their convictions, all three men were ordered to pay restitution of $7,500 to the victims who were impacted by the counterfeit bills. During a search of Chao’s residence, authorities discovered two firearms hidden in his bed. Since Chao was prohibited from possessing firearms due to previous felony convictions, this finding added another layer to his criminal charges.
The counterfeit operation involved using a solution to remove ink from legitimate $1 bills and then reprinting $100 note images on the paper. The fraudulent bills were passed at businesses throughout the central part of South Dakota, where the defendants were able to deceive workers into accepting them as legitimate currency.
“This operation was not only a violation of federal law, but it also damaged businesses in our community,” said the U.S. Attorney’s Office. “We take such offenses seriously, and those involved will face the full consequences of their actions.”
The sentencing of Chao and the Martinezes marks the end of a significant counterfeiting operation in the state. The U.S. Attorney’s Office has emphasized its commitment to investigating and prosecuting individuals involved in such crimes to protect businesses and consumers alike.
For additional details or to report any related information, members of the public are encouraged to contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Dakota.
