Counterfeit operation halted

One Bronx resident was hard at work, making money…literally, and will now face a judge to answer for crimes that go beyond his initial arrest for counterfeiting. 

District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announced on Tuesday, May 6, that Steven McCray, 47, was arrested after an undercover operation uncovered a counterfeit currency operation he allegedly ran in his apartment at 1251 Webster Avenue. 

McCray was charged with one count of forgery in the first degree, one count of criminal possession of a forged instrument in the first degree and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree.

Each of the Class C felony offenses is punishable of a maximum sentence of up to 15 years.

Under the NYC Administrative Code, McCray was also charged with two misdemeanor counts for possession of an electronic stun gun and possession of police scanners.

McCray was taken into custody after Bronx DA detective investigators and U.S. Secret Service agents executed a search party at his home.

Acting State Supreme Court Justice Gilbert Hong set bail at $150,000 bond or $75,000 cash.

“I’m glad law enforcement was able to track this individual down,” Community Board 4 district manager Jose Rodriguez commented.

During the 15 years he’s lived in the borough, Rodriguez said he’d never heard of such an obscure case. Nonetheless, he added he’s pleased with the dedication shown by the 44th Precinct, who worked cooperatively with the DA’s office on the case.

“We have a really great community affairs staff,” he said. “They’re really attentive to the needs of the community.”

Upon a search of McCray’s home, investigators recovered a computer, printer and scanner used to manufacture counterfeit currency, as well as two police scanners, capable of unscrambling or decoding police broadcasts by radio and television, a stun gun, a .25-caliber automatic pistol, an AR-15 assault rifle and a stash of ammunition.

McCray also had $1,000 in counterfeit 20-dollar bills in his back pocket, which upon his apprehension, he told authorities he was going to sell for $300.

Authorities located an additional $1,580 of cut and uncut counterfeit monies in McCray’s dresser drawer.

McCray told police he’d been running the operation on and off for the past eight years.

District Attorney Robert Johnson, Steven McCray, Webster Avenue, counterfeit money, Supreme Court Gilbert Hong