Serial counterfeiter sent to prison for 3 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, ordering a three-year sentence Tuesday. 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. Published: Thu, Mar 19, 2015