Counterfeiter Attempts to Sell Money

M

aking counterfeit money is a pretty dumb crime in and of itself, but trying to sell said money is even worse. Trying to sell it to a pawn shop is also really dumb, and when the pawn shop in question is a famous pawn shop that has its own reality TV show, it's about as dumb as it gets. Meet Kenny "Boom" Smith, who did just this.

"People bring in counterfeit money, counterfeit jewelry. Nothing surprises me nowadays." -- shop owner Les Gold.

Smith got busted for trying to sell counterfeit money to American Jewelry and Loan, where the TV show Hardcore Pawn is shot. It's near 8 Mile and Evergreen Roads in Detroit and was also featured in the film 8 Mile, which starred Eminem.

Shop owner Les Gold said, "We have tour buses and people from all over the world coming here. They love the show and we're a great pawn shop. We see everything. People bring in counterfeit money, counterfeit jewelry. Nothing surprises me nowadays."

Thus, Gold wasn't surprised when Smith tried to sell him a counterfeit-money-printing machine. Smith had apparently told Gold he wanted to be on the show and that he'd bring his counterfeiting equipment in. Secret Service agents showed up a little while later, and since Smith's counterfeiting admission had been taped (to theoretically be on the show), they were able to arrest him.

Smith has done time in prison for the same charge—counterfeiting money—and if convicted (which, let's face it, is pretty much a guarantee), he'll go back to jail.

"All because he wanted his five minutes of fame on TV," Gold said.