Is it a crime to pass counterfeit money unknowingly?

Innocent until proven guilty… those words apply all crimes in the United States.  A situation in which you may unknowingly pass counterfeit money is no exception.

The fact that one or more counterfeit bills passes from your hands to that of another person does not mean that you have committed a crime. What it means is that someone has committed a crime at some point and more than likely, there will be an investigation into the matter.

The investigation may simply involve a few questions posed by a manager at the business where the problem is discovered, or it could involve authorities being called to the scene. If it appears that you may have knowledge that you were handling fake currency, you may be charged and arrested. Then, your case will go to trial, where the prosecutor will have the burden of proving your guilt.

If this has happened and you are facing criminal charges for unknowingly passing counterfeit money, you should immediately acquire legal representation to help assert your innocence.