Harrisburg, Pa. - Federal prosecutors announced charges Wednesday against five Harrisburg-area men in connection with a large-scale counterfeit currency operation.

Charged in a 13-count indictment handed up by a grand jury in Harrisburg are Edmond Petitto, 40, of Hummelstown; Cory Stuckey, 32, of Duncannon; Fallon Flanagan, 22, of Duncannon; Cyrus Flanders, 42, of Harrisburg; and William Winemiller, 21, of York.

U.S. Attorney Dennis C. Pfannenschmidt said the indictment alleges the money was made in Dauphin County, usually in $100 bills, and produced in a way to defeat counterfeit-detection devices used by retail stores. The group then purchased items for less than $25 with the fake bills in order to get the change in genuine currency, the indictment states.

The indictment further states that on at least three occasions, various members of the group traveled to cities as far away as Seattle, Washington to make purchases with the counterfeit bills.

Pfannenschmidt said Petitto and Stuckey were arrested after delivering $100,000 in counterfeit 100's to an undercover Secret Service agent.

Petitto and Stuckey face maximum sentences of 65 years' imprisonment and fines of up to $1 million. Fallon and Winemiller face maximum prison terms of up to 45 years in prison and $750,000 in fines, while Sanders faces up to 25 years in prison and a $500,000 fine.

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