Alleged counterfeiter arraigned in federal court
Moses Lake Police Department/courtesy photo The haul that officers in Moses Lake recovered from the suspects’ vehicle.
SPOKANE — A Puyallup man arrested a year ago in Moses Lake on suspicion of buying merchandise from six local businesses with counterfeit bills was arraigned Friday on federal charges in U.S. District Court in Spokane.
Artem Kirichenko was indicted in June on six counts of using counterfeit cash, one count each of possession with intent to distribute meth and heroin, as well as one count of felon in possession of a firearm. Kirichenko entered a not guilty plea Friday and his trial has been set for May 20.
Kirichenko, 33, and Emily A. Coates, 31, both of Puyallup, were arrested in Moses Lake in April 2018 for allegedly passing fake bills at several businesses. A search warrant was served on the vehicle and police reportedly recovered around 4 ounces of methamphetamine, 1 ounce of heroin, $10,000 in legitimate cash, $2,000 in counterfeit cash, an illegally-possessed pistol, a credit card embosser and “dozens” of fake credit cards.
“Officers located receipts and other evidence that Kirichenko and Coates have crossed the state leaving counterfeit bills in their wake,” MLPD Captain Mike Williams said shortly after the pair’s arrest.
Kirichenko was also sentenced mid-February to a year in prison for a possession of meth case in Mason County.