A federal judge sentenced a Maryland man to jail for orchestrating a counterfeit money scheme while already under court supervision, authorities announced Thursday.
Jason Christian Evans, 51, of Dundalk, was sentenced to 32 months in prison and three years of supervised release, according to federal court documents.
Evans pleaded guilty to obtaining counterfeit US currency and utilizing it in retail transactions, and US District Judge Richard D. Bennett imposed the sentence.
Prosecutors claimed Evans carried out the plot immediately after serving a previous sentence for bank fraud.
On January 30, 2025, he broke the terms of his supervised release by traveling from Maryland to Pennsylvania and using forged money to make purchases at at least five grocery stores, including Giant Food and Weis Markets.
On April 17, authorities detained Evans while carrying out a federal search warrant at his Dundalk home.
During the search, investigators discovered two cell phones, five laptops (including an HP laptop), and counterfeit detecting pens.
According to court filings, Evans admitted to purchasing counterfeit currency online and utilizing it at Pennsylvania establishments.
He informed detectives that he obtained the false bills by accessing a dark web marketplace called “Abacus Market” on his laptop.
A forensic examination of the laptop revealed files offering instructions for making counterfeit money appear weathered and legitimate.
Investigators also discovered a video explaining how to avoid detection by counterfeit-detecting pens.
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