Nestor Camacho Taitano, Lucas Taitano Manglona and Kisha Lyn Masga King appeared on Friday before U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Presiding Judge Alex R. Munson and pleaded not guilty.
Taitano, Manglona and King were charged with two counts of conspiracy to utter counterfeit obligations and securities by passing Federal Reserve notes and four counts for counterfeiting, defrauding retail establishments and obtain merchandise and proceeds.
Their jury trial will start on May 4, 2009.
Camacho, Manglona and King appeared with their court-appointed lawyers — David Banes. Robert Torres and Loren Sutton.
Assistant U.S. Attorney James Benedetto appeared on behalf of the federal government.
The indictment stated that in Jan. 2009, Taitano and King conspired to pass counterfeit Federal Reserve notes.
On Jan. 12, Taitano supplied King with a fake $50 bill to pay for gasoline at the Koblerville Shell gas station.
King used the fake $50 bill to pay for a $10 gasoline purchase.
Taitano again gave King another counterfeit $50 bill on the same day to pay for clothing and other items at the Tapo Fashion Store.
King paid for the items and gave the change to Taitano.
On the same day, Taitano gave King another counterfeit $50 bill to pay for clothing and other items at the Fashion Avenue Store.
King also gave the change she got to Taitano.
The indictment stated that on Jan. 12, 2009, Taitano passed a fake $50 bill to Manglona, who used it to buy a pack of cigarettes and lighter from Nang Ocha Store in San Vicente.
Manglona gave the change to Taitano.
Police Officer 2 Jason T. Tarkong earlier said that authorities received eight formal complaints from establishments victimized by counterfeit bills.
