Merritt Island Man Arrested On Counterfeit Charges
By Wayne Ivey, Brevard County Sheriff // April 13, 2015
CRIMELINE TIP LEAD TO ARREST OF Tony Torbert Jr.
Charged With Selling Counterfeit Cash On Craigslist
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA — I am very pleased to announce that our Brevard County Economic Crimes Task Force culminated an investigation with the arrest of 20-year-old Tony Jerome Torbert Jr. of Merritt Island on Thursday, April 8.
Torbert was charged with Possession of Counterfeit Currency with Intent to Defraud.
The charge carries a possible 20-year Federal Prison sentence.
Torbert was arraigned in Federal Court on Friday where he was subsequently released on bond.
The investigation began in February after the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office received a Crimeline tip in reference to an individual on Craigslist who was selling counterfeit currency under an ad titled, “Legit Counterfeit $$.”
With the assistance of the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigation Unit, the Economic Crimes Tasks Force conducted three undercover purchases from Torbert Jr. over the past month.
On April 8, Torbert Jr. was arrested after completing a fourth sale.
While Torbert Jr. was being arrested, a search warrant was executed at his residence.
During the search, a printer, counterfeit currency and computer were among evidentiary items seized.
Due to the seriousness of the crime, the United States Secret Service was contacted during the investigation.
Agents from Secret Service then assisted the Sheriff’s Office in the culmination of the investigation.
As many of you know, Economic Crimes are some of the most impacting crimes that target our citizens.
I am very proud of this very important partnership that currently includes support from the Sheriff’s Office, Titusville Police Department, Melbourne Police Department and the State Attorney’s Office.
Anyone with further information about this Investigation is asked to please call Agent Chris Sauro of the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office Economic Crimes Task Force at 321-633-8410 or CRIMELINE at 1-800-423-TIPS (8477). All calls to CRIMELINE are confidential and callers can remain anonymous and be eligible for a reward.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey has been a law enforcement officer for over three decades. Sheriff Ivey is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and has a Bachelor’s Degree from Daytona State College in Management and Supervision. Sheriff Ivey’s background in law enforcement is inclusive of Management, Criminal Investigations, Narcotics, Patrol Services, Public Integrity Investigations, and Corrections.
Prior to being elected in 2012, Sheriff Ivey served the citizens of the State of Florida as a Resident Agent in Charge for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. As a member of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Sheriff Ivey developed and created the country’s first ever statewide Task Force on Identity Theft.
That same year the Task Force was named one of the top five most innovative programs in the country by the International Association of Chiefs of Police and investigated approximately 44 million dollars in fraud cases. Additionally, as a member of FDLE, Sheriff Ivey created the Child Abduction Response Team (C.A.R.T) that re-defined the way Child Abduction cases are conducted throughout the country today.
Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey has been a law enforcement officer for over three decades. Sheriff Ivey is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and has a Bachelor’s Degree from Daytona State College in Management and Supervision. Sheriff Ivey’s background in law enforcement is inclusive of Management, Criminal Investigations, Narcotics, Patrol Services, Public Integrity Investigations, and Corrections.
The program was later selected as the most innovative program in the country by the International Association of Chiefs of Police and is now used as a nationwide model in the response and investigation of child abductions.
Sheriff Ivey has testified before the United States Congress on law enforcement related matters and has extensive experience in the area of Public Integrity Investigations. Sheriff Ivey was honored as the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s Special Agent of the Year (1996) and was also recognized by the Commissioner of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for his Outstanding Contributions to Criminal Justice. In August of 2011 Sheriff Ivey was honored by the National Organization of Victims Advocacy for his work at the national level as an advocate of victim’s rights and protection.
Sheriff Ivey speaks regularly on topics such as Identity Theft, Crime in America, Human Trafficking, Domestic Violence, and Self Defense through Mental Preparedness. Sheriff Ivey firmly believes that Crime Prevention and Education are vital to reduce our crime rate and protect our community.
