Customs agents seize $790K in counterfeit cash at JFK Airport

BY Joe Kemp
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Wednesday, May 11th 2011, 7:12 PM

Authorities at JFK Airport netted $790,000 in counterfeit cash from two passengers in less than a month, officials said Wednesday.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents busted Jonathan Reyes with more than 1,900 fake C-notes after they found the bills stuffed inside the lining of several purses and wallets during a bag check, officials said.

Reyes' arrest was less than a month after another passenger was caught carrying bogus Benjamins.

On April 14, agents arrested Marco Chavez and found about $600,000 of counterfeit money in his luggage.

The bust marked one of the largest seizures of fake cash at the airport, officials said.

Jonathan Reyes was caught with the fake bills stuffed in the lining of several purses and wallets. (CBP/NYFO)

Both men were taken into custody and the investigations are ongoing, officials said.

Robert Perez, director of field operations for CBP, said the use of counterfeit cash has an adverse effect on the nation's economy.

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