Published: May 15, 2008 11:14 am      

Jeffersonville man accused of counterfeiting

Norman L. Sheckles Jr. facing 21 C felony charges

A Jeffersonville man is accused of running a counterfeiting operation out of his Webster Boulevard home, police say.

Norman L. Sheckles Jr., 29, is being held in Michael L. Becher Adult Corrections Complex with 21 class C felony counterfeiting charges pending against him, said Jeffersonville Police Department Detective Todd Hollis at a news conference Wednesday.

Sheckles, who has a past history of narcotics arrests and convictions, is likely to also face drug charges for allegedly having a crack pipe and marijuana in the residence when police arrived, Hollis said.

Sheckles is also known as Norman Sewells, according to a police report. On Tuesday, JPD officers and U.S. Secret Service agents executed a search warrant at Sheckles’ home after a nearly six-month-long investigation.

Once inside, authorities say they found 21 counterfeit bills ranging from $5 to $100, printers and computers used in the purported operation and a variety of printing paper.

Sheckles was also wanted by Indianapolis authorities for alleged cocaine dealing, records say. Hollis said the suspect admitted his involvement in the counterfeiting.

Police are investigating whether any accomplices are involved. In addition, Hollis noted that because Sheckles is accused of operating over state lines in Louisville, that more charges may be pending against him by the Secret Service.

As of publication deadline, prosecutors had not filed formal charges against Sheckles for the alleged counterfeiting, drug or paraphernalia possession.