For the second time, Jacob R Kirkley, a 48-year-old resident of Bismarck, Illinois, has been found guilty of activities revolving around counterfeit U.S. currency. Yesterday, a federal jury convicted Kirkley on multiple counts after hearing evidence that he dealt with counterfeit bills. The case has been eagerly watched as it showcases ongoing efforts to combat currency fraud.
According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, Kirkley sold counterfeit currency to an undercover officer on three occasions between December 2023 and January 2024. His impending sentencing could easily see him facing up to twenty years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine for each of the five counts of conviction. The trial lasted two days, during which sufficient evidence was presented to convincingly link Kirkley to these criminal transactions.
Details from the trial revealed that an assortment of counterfeit-making tools, including printers and a paper cutter, were seized during a January 11 search of Kirkley's property. This seizure closely mirrors an incident that took place in 2022, when Kirkley was previously convicted for similar crimes. At that time, over $20,000 in counterfeit currency and counterfeit-making implements were discovered by a Vermilion County Sheriff's Deputy. Following this first conviction, Kirkley served 27 months in federal prison and was under supervised release when he committed the latest offenses.
Kirkley currently remains under the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service until his scheduled sentencing on May 2, 2025. The case was thoroughly investigated by several law enforcement agencies, including the Springfield Division of the United States Secret Service, the Vermilion County Metropolitan Enforcement Group, and the Illinois State Police. Supervisory Assistant United States Attorney Eugene L. Miller represented the government in this recent trial.
