Another Man Indicted In Counterfeit Ring Lee Is Suspected Of Carrying The Money From Colombia To The U.S.
A sixth suspect has been arrested in a Colombia-to-Spokane drug and counterfeit money smuggling ring tied to a murder, authorities say.
The U.S. Secret Service now believes in excess of $200,000 of the high-quality counterfeit $100 bills were successfully smuggled into the United States by the ring.
Jason Schulwitz, who was found murdered in the parking lot of a Spokane Valley store on Dec. 10, was a ringleader of the group, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Earl Hicks.
Douglas Charles Lee, 28, of Spokane, surrendered to Secret Service agents on Wednesday after learning a warrant had been issued for his arrest.
He was released on his own recognizance after an appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cynthia Imbrogno.
Lee is charged in a grand jury indictment filed Jan. 13 with conspiracy to import counterfeit U.S. currency.
Nakia Shane Burland, 25, also of Spokane, is named in the same indictment. He was arrested last week.
The alleged roles of Burland and Lee were discovered during sheriff’s detectives investigation of the gangland-style murder of Schulwitz.
His body was dumped head-first into a garbage can that was shoved into the back of his Ford Expedition.
At the time of his murder, Schulwitz was days away from being indicted, Hicks said.
The new indictment alleges Lee and Burland conspired with Schulwitz and another man, identified only as “Tony” or “Hugo,” to smuggle $100,000 in counterfeit money into the United States.
The $100 bills are printed on genuine $1 bills after their ink has been bleached away, authorities say.
Lee is accused of being the “mule” who went to Colombia between January and May 15 of last year and smuggled the money back into the U.S.
His passport was seized as evidence, investigators say.
The prosecutor heading the investigation says the conspiracy also involved the importation of drugs, apparently cocaine. No drugs have been seized.
Secret Service agents seized $100,000 in counterfeit money from suspects arrested late last year and another $100,000 in bogus bills turned up at banks in the Seattle area.
“It’s a large case and does involve international crimes,” Hicks said.
Others charged in the investigation are Raymond D. Frasu; Jeremy Standow; his mother, Debra Banka, and Todd Anthony Shipman.