Three Mexican nationals have pleaded guilty to federal charges of counterfeiting and forgery in connection with the passing of counterfeit $100 bills at the Wal-Mart store in Newton, and the attempted cashing of forged payroll checks at the Hutchinson Credit Union branch in Haven, United States Attorney Eric Melgren announced Wednesday.

The three men were unlawfully present in the United States when the incidents occurred, Melgren said, and were connected to the passing of a total of more than $10,000 in counterfeit $100 bills in several states.  The Kansas incidents occurred in December 2007 and January 2008.

The men who pled guilty are:
• Johnny Varay-Moreno, 23, a citizen of Mexico
• Camilo Lopez-Corral, 40,  a citizen of Mexico
• Adrien Estrada-Rosales, 23,  a citizen of Mexico

The guilty pleas were entered Tuesday before Senior U.S. District Judge Wesley E. Brown, who set sentencing for July 1.  The defendants agreed to serve sentences ranging from 30 to 40 months as part of their plea agreements in the case.

Varay-Moreno also pleaded guilty to re-entering the United States unlawfully after having been deported and will serve  40-months in prison, if his agreed sentence is approved by the court.  All three men face mandatory removal from the United States after they complete their prison sentences, Melgren said.

The case was investigated by the Newton, Kan., Police Department, the United States Secret Service, the Hutchinson Police Department, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.  It was prosecuted by assistant U.S. attorney Brent Anderson.