The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Jason Mitchell, 31, Tobyhanna, was sentenced Tuesday to 21 months' imprisonment by U.S. District Court Judge James M. Munley in Scranton for passing counterfeit currency in area casinos.

According to U.S. Attorney Peter Smith, Mitchell was charged in an indictment by a grand jury in November 2014 and pleaded guilty in September 2015 to conspiracy to pass counterfeit United States Federal Reserve Notes.Mitchell and others conspired to receive, exchange, transfer, and pass approximately $8,500 in counterfeit $100 Federal Reserve Notes at the Mount Airy Casino in Mount Pocono, and the Mohegan Sun Casino in Plains, Luzerne County, on various dates in June 2014.Also charged in the indictment with Mitchell are Andrew Turner, 28, and Michael Turner, 22, both from Tobyhanna. Both are awaiting trial.The case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and the Pennsylvania State Police, Bureau of Gaming Enforcement. Prosecution is assigned to Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Olshefski.