Local father, daughter sentenced for counterfeiting

A federal judge sentenced a Williamsburg man to 12 months and one day in prison, and his daughter to six months of home incarceration Thursday for printing counterfeit money.

David Vincent Peace, and his daughter Amanda Jo Lowrance, both told U.S. District Judge Gregory F. Van Tatenhove they were sorry for what they had done. Both prosecutors and defense attorneys agreed the two ran a relatively small-time, technologically simple operation out of their home that resulted in only about $260 of fake U.S. currency ever being printed. Only $50 was ever passed as real money before the two were caught.

"I am guilty and whatever happens here today, I deserve it," Lowrance said during the formal sentencing hearing.

The two pleaded guilty to a single count of counterfeiting after cutting a plea deal with prosecutors in January.  Last year, a federal grand jury indicted the both for printing phony money in late October of 2007. The indictment then claims Peace, twice on Nov. 4 2007, tried to pass counterfeit bills at Corbin Bingo Parlor.

Pursuant to the plea agreement, the duo admitted to printing $260 worth of fake bills, from as small as a single dollar up to $20 bills, at their home in Williamsburg with a desktop computer, scanner and printer – all of which was seized by the U.S. Secret Service during the investigation.

Separate charges of illegally passing off the counterfeit money were dropped as part of the agreement.

Peace’s defense attorney, Patrick E. O’Neill said his client was "very remorseful" for what happened, and asked Van Tatenhove to penalize Peace to something more lenient than sentencing guidelines – preferably probation or home incarceration. He said the money that was printed was "not very convincing" and that the two came up with the idea to counterfeit simply because they were low on money.

"While it is counterfeiting, this was an operation that really doesn’t deserve the term ‘operation,’" O’Neill said. "These are not professional counterfeiters. He [Peace] realizes this was a stupid idea."

O’Neill said Peace has a sparse criminal history and derives his only income from disability payments and social security.

Lowrance’s attorney, Greta Stamper Price, told Van Tatenhove that her client was simply "under a lot of financial strain" after moving to Kentucky to help care for her grandmother. She was pregnant with her now 11-month-old son when she was arrested and Price argued that separating Lowrance from her son would be difficult.

"We all know ignorance is not an excuse for breaking the law, but at the time I truly believe this is something she didn’t think she could go to prison for," Price said. "The mere act of her being arrested was enough to frighten her away from ever doing this again."

In rendering his sentenced, Van Tatenhove noted that Lowrance had a more minor role in the counterfeiting that her father. Peace actually tried to pass off the bills as real to at least one local business. Lowrance simply helped print them.

"I’m concerned that in this age of technology … that we need to make sure we deter others from the temptation to counterfeit U.S. currency," Van Tatenhove said. "If it appears there is not a consequence for doing this, it could become a real problem."’

Van Tatenhove added an extra day to Peace’s prison term so as to allow him to qualify for a reduction in his sentence for good behavior. Peace will be required to undergo alcohol abuse treatment while imprisoned and will be on two years of supervised release when his term is up. He was also ordered to pay $50 restitution to Corbin Bingo Parlor and a $27 fine. He must report to begin serving his prison term before 2:00 p.m. June 8.

In addition to six months of home, Lowrance received a total of three years probation.

Local police originally investigated the case before it was turned over to the United States Secret Service. During questioning shortly after their arrest, the two admitted their involvement in the scheme and police found counterfeit bills in their possession.