Three men sentenced in counterfeiting case

COLUMBIA – U.S. Attorney W. Walter Wilkins stated Thursday that Phillip Lee Laney, 27, of Mt. Croghan, S.C., was sentenced today in federal court in Florence for manufacturing counterfeit Federal Reserve Notes, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 471.

Lance Larenta Outen, 20, and David Lee Williams, 36, both of Hartsville, were sentenced Thursday in federal court in Florence for possession of counterfeit Federal Reserve Notes, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 472.

U.S. District Judge R. Bryan Harwell of Florence sentenced Laney to 15 months imprisonment and three years supervised release, Outen to 7 months imprisonment and three years supervised release, and sentenced Williams to 8 months imprisonment with three years supervised release.

Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing established that Hartsville   Police Department arrested Williams on unrelated charges. During a search incident to arrest, Williams was found to be in possession of seven counterfeit $20 notes. Further investigation revealed that Laney was manufacturing counterfeit money which was provided to Williams, so they could purchase cocaine from Outen.

The case was investigated by Hartsville Police Department and agents of the U.S. Secret Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney William E. Day, II of the Florence office handled the case.