Counterfeiter faces new charges, could have release revoked

Second suspect also indicted

TEXARKANA, Arkansas — A man who has been to federal prison for counterfeiting U.S. currency is facing a new federal indictment for the same crime.

Steven Shane Turnage, 48, is charged in the Texarkana Division of the Western District of Arkansas with two counts of counterfeiting involving phony $10, $20 and $100 bills. The indictment was filed in October and unsealed in November. Turnage is in federal custody.

The 2020 indictment charges Samantha Hunt, 38, as a co-defendant in the case. She is free on a $5,000 unsecured appearance bond.

Count one of the indictment accuses Turnage and Hunt of aiding and abetting each other in counterfeiting from June 30, 2019, to Nov. 5, 2019. Count two alleges Turnage and Hunt of similar conduct Nov. 5, 2019.

That case is set for trial in May 2021 before U.S. District Judge Susan Hickey.

Turnage is facing a petition to revoke his supervised release in another counterfeiting case in the Texarkana Division of the Western District of Arkansas.

Turnage was indicted in December 2015, pleaded guilty in February 2017 and was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison with credit for time served in June 2017.

According to court records, Turnage began serving a term of supervised release Jan. 2, 2019, in his 2015 federal counterfeiting case. While on supervised release, defendants are required to abide by certain terms and conditions, including avoiding additional criminal conduct.

Texarkana lawyer Jeff Harrelson has been appointed to represent Turnage in both cases. Texarkana lawyer John Pickett has been appointed to represent Hunt.