MADISON, WIS. – Scott C. Blader, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Cornelius Stewart, 25, Madison, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William Conley to 36 months in federal prison for conspiring with others to pass counterfeit U.S. currency at numerous merchants in Wisconsin in early 2019.  Stewart pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge on December 13, 2019.

In addition to the prison time for this new conviction, Stewart also received an additional 12-month sentence based upon the revocation of his federal supervision for a prior conviction for passing counterfeit currency.  The 12-month sentence will be served consecutive to the 36-month sentence.  In February 2017, Stewart and four other co-defendants were convicted of passing counterfeit $100 bills in southern Wisconsin during 2016.  Stewart served two years in prison as a result of that conviction, and was released to federal supervision in early 2019. 

From March through May 2019, while he was on federal supervision, Stewart again supplied counterfeit currency to four new associates.  They passed the counterfeit $100 bills at nearly 80 restaurants and merchants from Hudson, Wisconsin to Beaver Dam, Wisconsin.  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. His co-conspirators would bring legitimate currency back to Stewart in exchange for more counterfeit bills to pass.

Judge Conley, who had sentenced Stewart for the prior offense, expressed frustration with Stewart’s choice to commit the exact same crime and to do so while on supervised release for his original conviction.  In addition to the total sentence of four years, Judge Conley ordered Stewart to pay restitution of $8,294.33 to the victims of his scheme.

The charges in this case were the result of an investigation conducted by the Stoughton, Hudson, Madison, Middleton, and Beaver Dam Police Departments in coordination with the U.S. Secret Service, with the assistance of other police departments and sheriffs’ offices in Wisconsin.  The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert A. Anderson. 

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 January 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 February 23, 2016 by Janesville police officers during one such shopping spree when they responded to merchant reports of the suspicious bills.

 

Barbary-Wheatherby’s 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.

 

MADISON, WIS. – Jeffrey M. Anderson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Dominique Gaunichaux, 19, Madison, Wis., was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William Conley to eight months in federal prison for his role in passing counterfeit U.S. currency at numerous merchants in southern Wisconsin. Gaunichaux pleaded guilty to this charge on January 4, 2017. His sentence will be followed by two years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $7,500 in restitution to the victimized merchants, jointly and severally with his other co-defendants.

 

During January and February 2016, Gaunichaux 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. The group was apprehended on February 23, 2016 by Janesville police officers during one such shopping spree, when they responded to merchant reports of the suspicious bills.

 

Cornelius Stewart, 22, who was sentenced to two years in federal prison in February for his role as a leader of the group, provided the counterfeit bills to the other members of the group in return for a portion of the change they would receive from merchants.

 

On February 24, Judge Conley sentenced Danesha Phillips to 42 days time served and Marlo Phillips to one year time served for their roles in this scheme. Danesha Phillips and Marlo Phillips are sister and brother. The final defendant, Parish Barbary-Wheatherby, 21, will be sentenced on April 28.

 

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.

 

MADISON, WIS. – Jeffrey M. Anderson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Danesha Phillips, 23, and Marlo Phillips, 19, both of Madison, Wis., were sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William Conley for passing counterfeit U.S. currency at numerous merchants in southern Wisconsin. Danesha Phillips and Marlo Phillips are sister and brother.

 

Danesha Phillips, who pleaded guilty on December 20, 2016, was sentenced to 42 days in prison, with credit for time served. Marlo Phillips, who pleaded guilty on December 9, 2016, was sentenced to one year in prison, also with credit for time he has served since his arrest in February 2016. Both sentences are to be followed by two years of supervised release. The defendants were also ordered to pay $7,500 in restitution to the victimized merchants, jointly and severally with their other co-defendants.

 

During January and February 2016, Danesha Phillips and Marlo Phillips traveled with three other individuals 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.

 

The group was apprehended on February 23, 2016 by Janesville police officers during one such shopping spree, when police officers responded to merchant reports of the suspicious bills. In issuing the sentences, Judge Conley took into account the youthfulness of the defendants and, particularly, their post-arrest contrition and cooperation with the investigation and prosecution.

 

Cornelius Stewart, 22, Madison, was sentenced to two years in prison in February for his role as a leader of the group. Stewart provided the counterfeit bills to the other members of the group in return for a portion of the change they would receive from merchants. Dominique Gaunichaux, 19, and Parish Barbary-Wheatherby, 21, also of Madison, will be sentenced on April 6 and 28, respectively.

 



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.

MADISON, WIS. -- John W. Vaudreuil, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Cornelius Stewart, 22, Madison, Wis., was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge William Conley to two years in federal prison for passing counterfeit U.S. currency at numerous merchants in southern Wisconsin. Stewart pleaded guilty to this charge on November 21, 2016.

During January and February 2016, Stewart, along with four other co-defendants, 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.

The group was apprehended on February 23, 2016 by Janesville police officers during one such shopping spree, when they responded to merchant reports of the suspicious bills. Judge Conley noted that a term of imprisonment was especially warranted for Stewart because of his leadership role within the group, his previous state-level convictions for possessing and passing counterfeit currency, and his role in manufacturing the counterfeit bills. Stewart was also ordered to pay $7,500 in restitution to the victimized merchants.

Stewart’s co-defendants have all pleaded guilty to federal charges in this matter. They are Danesha Phillips, 23, Dominique Gaunichaux, 19, Marlo Phillips, 19, and Parish Barbary-Wheatherby, 21, all of Madison. Danesha Phillips and Marlo Phillips will be sentenced on March 21, Gaunichaux on April 6, and Barbary-Wheatherby on April 28. 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.