Christopher Keli Joiner found with $4500 in fake $50 notes but he didn’t need the cash

A man has found himself in court charged with making fake money after caught with $4500 in fake $50 notes. But the court heard it was far from a sophisticated operation.

A man found with $4500 in fake cash “did not need the money”, a court has been told.

A MARINE upholster caught with $4500 in fake $50 notes “did not need the money” when he was making the bogus cash with his business printer, a court was told.

Christopher Keli Joiner pleaded guilty in the Southport District court today to making counterfeit money and possessing counterfeit money.

The fake cash operation was so low-grade the fake notes were made with a printer Joiner used in his marine upholstery business in June 2017.

Judge Michael Rackemann sentenced Joiner to six months prison with immediate release on probation for 12 months.

He is also subject to a $1000 good behaviour bond.

“Some of the material (used to make the notes) you would have had in any event because of your business,” Judge Rackemann said.

“It’s unclear how much was produced but you were found to be in possession of 37 sheets of $50 notes.”

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The court was told a total of 90 $50 notes were found.

There was no evidence Joiner had used the notes to purchase anything.

Joiner’s barrister Nick McGhee, instructed by Gatenby Criminal Lawyers, said Joiner had started making the notes after being caught up in a drug addiction.

“He had a successful business — he didn’t need the money,” Mr McGhee said.

“It was simply being made as a part of his involvement with the wrong crowd.”

Mr McGhee said Joiner had spiralled into drug use in 2016 after he broke up with his partner of nine years and his grandmother died.

He said Joiner was seeking help for his drug use and mental health issues.