Tampa Man Pleads Guilty To Recruiting Individuals To Pass Counterfeit Federal Reserve Notes

Jacksonville, Florida - United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Trentavius Quntez Scott (37, Tampa) has pleaded guilty to passing counterfeit Federal Reserve notes. Scott faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and restitution to the victims he defrauded. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to court documents and public records, Scott appeared in federal court on September 26, 2024, pursuant to a writ bringing him to Jacksonville from the Hillsborough County Detention Center where he is serving a sentence for a counterfeit-related crime. The court ordered Scott detained. Scott is also wanted on a felony arrest warrant out of Hernando County on an unrelated financial crime case.

According to the plea agreement, in July 2023, Scott recruited an individual to assist him in passing counterfeit Federal Reserve notes. Scott provided the individual with counterfeit the counterfeit currency, then the two traveled to Ocala. In Ocala, Scott and the individual went to a retail store and passed multiple counterfeit bills. In March 2024, Scott recruited two more individuals and provided them with counterfeit cash. Scott and the two individuals traveled to St. Johns County where they passed more counterfeit Federal Reserve notes at a retail store.

This case was investigated by the Ocala Police Department, the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office, and the United States Secret Service - Jacksonville Field Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein.