Counterfeiting Suspect Arrested In Uganda To Face Fed Judge In Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH (AP) - An American deported from Uganda after his arrest on charges that he counterfeited more than $180,000 worth of that nation's currency faces a federal judge in Pittsburgh.

Ryan Andrew Gustafson will make the appearance Monday afternoon on charges he also printed more than $2 million in fake U.S. currency.

Federal authorities say most of that money was passed in Uganda, but about $270,000 was sold online and shipped to the United States where others passed it.

The scheme unraveled when a fake $100 bill passed at a Pittsburgh coffee shop in December 2013 was detected by bank employees.

Investigators traced that bill to a Pittsburgh man and further investigation determined Gustafson was shipping the bills to others in Florida, Minnesota, Texas and Washington.

Online court records don't list an attorney for Gustafson, who remains in custody.

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