GREENVILLE—Robert P. Taylor, 46, of Liberty, was sentenced in federal court to two years imprisonment for conspiracy to pass counterfeit checks, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371, and for manufacturing counterfeit reserve notes, a violation of Title 18 United States Code, Section 471.

According to acting United States Attorney Kevin F. McDonald, evidence established that Tayler was a member of a group that stole mail, looking for checks and bank statements from which they could obtain account numbers and routing numbes for the making of counterfeit checks.

McDonald said that last April, Greenville County deputies, U.S. Secret Service agents and United States Postal Inspectors stopped a vehicle containing counterfeit checks, counterfeit identification documents, stolen identification documents and stolen mail. Based on information obtained from this stop, investigators located and seized computers and other information used in the conspiracy.

A total of 78 victims lost more than $42,000 in the conspiracy, McDonald said.

In addition to passing counterfeit checks, Taylor also used a printer/scanner to create counterfeit United States currency, McDonald said. In November 2008, Taylor manufactured approximately $2,500.00 in counterfeit money. Taylor and other members of the conspiracy used the counterfeit money and checks to buy methamphetamine, according to McDonald.

The case was investigated by agents of the United States Secret Service, United States Postal Inspectors, and Greenville County Sheriff’s deputies. Assistant United States Attorney William J. Watkins, Jr., of the Greenville office handled the case.