Manhattan Woman Gets Prison In Counterfeit Currency Case

ORANGE COUNTY, NY — A New York woman's criminal ways have caught up with her in a big way, following her most recent felony conviction.

Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced that 39-year-old Carol Ntuli, of Manhattan, was sentenced to three to six years in prison in connection with her previous guilty plea in Orange County Court to first degree criminal possession of a forged instrument.

According to court documents, on two dates in March of this year, Ntuli made purchases at stores in the Town of Wallkill and a store in the Town of New Windsor using counterfeit US currency.

When she was arrested the following week, Ntuli was wearing the same clothes she was seen wearing when she passed the counterfeit bills. During questioning, she admitted to possessing and passing the counterfeit bills at the stores.

Ntuli admitted in court to knowingly possessing forged money with the intent to defraud. The plea is her fifth felony conviction.

"Incarceration is appropriate for serial recidivists whose criminal behavior is not stopped by increasing punishment," Hoovler said. "Counterfeit currency is not a victimless crime. Indeed, retail establishments lose untold amounts through various fraudulent schemes and those who seek to perpetrate these crimes must be held accountable. I commend the cooperative efforts of the police agencies involved in investigating these crimes which resulted in this defendant’s arrest and conviction.

The DA thanked the Town of Wallkill Police Department and the Town of New Windsor Police Department for their investigation which led to the arrest of Ntuli.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Peter Fernandez.