BRAITHWAITE, La. - A Plaquemines Parish woman has been involved in a counterfeiting operation involving a couple million dollars in counterfeit money orders and cashier's checks, according to the Plaqumeines Parish Sheriff's Office.
Janice Marie Pretto of Braithwaite, was arrested around 4 p.m. Wednesday after Plaquemines Parish detectives along with agents from Homeland Security, the Secret Service and State Police staged a delivery of counterfeit materials to her home that she accepted.
Plaquemines Parish deputies said Homeland Security intercepted an international package that included $83,380 in counterfeit money orders and cashier's checks in Ohio on Sunday, May 13. Deputies said the package was to be delivered to Pretto.
After arresting Pretto, deputies said they were able to find additional counterfeit checks and money orders from Pretto in the amount of $1.65 million. Investigators said they also learned that Pretto had shipped close to $1 million in fraudulent checks and money orders Wednesday morning.
Investigators said this is an ongoing investigation. Janice Marie Pretto was booked at the Belle Chasse Lockup with Monetary Instrument Abuse. Bond had not been set as of Thursday afternoon.
