Woman who made fake money and used it at Mississippi garage sales sentenced to federal prison

A woman accused of using counterfeit money at several Mississippi garage sales has been sentenced to federal prison after pleading guilty to making and using the fake money.

Mary Glassmire Sessums, 43, of Rankin County, has been sentenced to 12 months and one day in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release, for possessing and passing counterfeit currency. Sessums received her sentence in U.S. District Court in Jackson.

The investigation, conducted by the Rankin County Sheriff’s Office, Pelahatchie Police Department, and Brandon Police Department, identified Sessums and Purvis Dustin Ward as suspects. On November 2, 2019, several Rankin County residents reported that a man and a woman had been using counterfeit currency at garage sales. A local resident captured a photo of the suspects’ car, providing law enforcement with a tag number and description. Pelahatchie Police officers later stopped the vehicle and observed counterfeit currency in plain view. Sessums and Ward were arrested for possession of counterfeit currency, and several victims identified them as the individuals who had made fraudulent purchases.

A search of Ward’s residence, conducted by Rankin County Deputies, uncovered counterfeit currency, uncut sheets of counterfeit bills, two computers, three printers, specialty ink, and paint used in producing counterfeit currency.

Sessums pled guilty on March 13, 2024, to possessing and passing counterfeit currency. Ward had previously pled guilty to one count of making counterfeit currency and one count of possessing and passing counterfeit currency. He was sentenced to 30 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release.

U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Resident Agent in Charge Kyle Smith of the United States Secret Service announced the sentencing. The case was investigated by the Secret Service, Rankin County Sheriff’s Office, Pelahatchie Police Department, and Brandon Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kabah Ealy and Dave Fulcher.