New Port Richey, Fla. (970 WFLA)- Three people have been arrested in connection with creating and distributing counterfeit money. This investigation began in 2015.
In addition during this time period there were four cases reported by Zephyrhills PD which were adopted into the Pasco County cases.
All of the cases involving this group of Counterfeiter involved the passing of $100 Counterfeit Federal Reserve Notes.
By July of 2015 the extent of this counterfeit crew was taking on a multijurisdictional aspect and was taken to the USSS to assist in determining how broad an area was being affected by these counterfeiters, it was determined that these bills were being passed in the entire Middle District of Florida which includes, Pasco, Hernando, Hillsborough, Pinellas, Polk and Sarasota Counties.
The group of counterfeiters included, Katrina Watkins, her two sons Christopher and Devon'tre Houston and her boyfriend Artavis Dawkins.
Christopher Houston is no longer a part of this case as he was killed in a shooting incident that occurred in St. Petersburg in 2016.
The total of currency count for our district is $142,100 which does not include bills passed in the other federal districts in Florida.
The federal Indictment was issued by the Grand Jury on 03/02/2017 along with arrest warrants on all three suspects.
Watkins was arrested March 7th. Devon'tre Houston was arrested on March 8th and Artavis Dawkins was arrested on March 9th.
Photo Credit: Pasco Sheriff's Office