Serial counterfeiter sent to prison for three years

DETROIT (AP) — A Detroit-area man who once tried to sell his counterfeit cash machine on TV’s “American Pawn” has been sent to prison again — for counterfeiting.

Federal Judge Robert Cleland had no mercy for Kenny “Boom” Smith, recently ordering a three-year sentence.The punishment even exceeded the recommendation of prosecutors.

Smith was accused last summer of selling $3,600 in counterfeit cash while on supervised release for an earlier counterfeiting crime. Prosecutors say it’s his third counterfeiting conviction and his tenth overall conviction.

Smith’s lawyer had asked for a one-year prison sentence.

In a previous case, Smith was arrested partly due to his desire to be on “American Pawn,” which is based at a Detroit pawn shop. Owner Seth Gold told agents that Smith wanted to show his counterfeiting skills.