$900K In Fake Cash In Duffel Bags Nets 2 More Arrests

ATLANTA -- Michael L. Allen told a federal judge he didn't have enough money to pay for an attoey. But prosecutors said he had plenty of cash back in 2007 -- it just wasn't real.

"It's substantially more than we typically see in the counterfeit cases we do here in Atlanta, so it was a pretty big deal," said Assistant United States Attoey Bill McKinnon.

East Point police responded to a burglary call on Savannah Drive in 2007 and found duffel bags full of more than $900,000 in fake cash. It took them six hours just to count it all. A jury convicted the homeowner, Terri Reddick, in 2008.

Terri Reddick

"Cases don't usually get better with age, but this case, the agents and the U.S. attoey's office kept plugging away and developed some additional evidence not too long ago," said McKinnon.

A grand jury indicted Bobby Davis, 22, and Michael Allen, 38, for possessing and producing counterfeit bills and for conspiracy.

Prosecutors said Reddick implicated Allen, who according to the indictment, moved the printing and copying equipment into her house, then printed $20, $50 and $100 bills.

Prosecutors said evidence in Reddick's trial showed the group planned to use the fake money to buy drugs from Mexican distributors, which can be even more dangerous.

"There have been incidents where counterfeit currency that's used to buy drugs has led to violence when the drug dealers find out they've been ripped off," said McKinnon.

Davis was arraigned Tuesday and has posted bond. Allen will have a bond hearing Monday. According to the indictments, there could be more arrests in this case.