Eight people from southern Minnesota, including three people from Albert Lea, have been indicted in federal court in Minneapolis in connection to an alleged counterfeit ring that targeted businesses along the Interstate 35 corridor between the Twin Cities and the Iowa border.

The indictment was filed on Aug. 2 by a grand jury, and the eight defendants made their initial appearances in court Thursday and Friday.

Albert Leans Travis Allen Cameron, 31, Heather Ann Cameron, 34, and Meranda Lynn O’Connor, 29, each face one count of uttering altered United States currency.

Travis and Heather Cameron also each face one additional count of altering U.S. currency and one count of dealing in altered U.S. currency. O’Connor faces a second count of uttering altered U.S. currency.

Also charged were the following:

• Eric Michael Dorman, 34, of Fairmont, two counts of uttering altered U.S. currency, one count of altering U.S. currency, one count of dealing in altered U.S. currency

• Vincent Dwayne Tampio, 33, of Faribault, one count of uttering altered U.S. currency, one count of altering U.S. currency, one count of dealing in altered U.S. currency.

• Daniel Jay Wilson, 27, of Owatonna, one count of uttering altered U.S. currency

• Sarah Ann Wood, 27, of Owatonna, one count of uttering altered U.S. currency

• Dustin David Hanson, 34, of Northfield, one count of uttering altered U.S. currency

Federal court documents allege that from Dec. 23, 2010, through June 21, Dorman, Tampio, Travis Cameron and Heather Cameron chemically washed $5 bills and reprinted them as $100 bills. Documents also allege they passed the altered currency.

The federal charges come about two months after the Camerons were arrested in Albert Lea and charged in Freeborn County District Court with manufacturing counterfeit U.S. currency. At that time, Freeborn County prosecutors hinted toward possible federal charges.

Local court documents allege the counterfeit money was passed in cities including Faribault, Owatonna, Albert Lea, Mankato, Northfield, Dundas, Austin, Eagan and Burnsville.

The Camerons and others allegedly involved would make small-dollar purchases at various retail businesses with the counterfeit bills in exchange for large amounts of change in genuine currency.

The counterfeit $100 bills would come back as a false positive when tested with a counterfeit pen.

Each defendant faces a potential maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each uttering altered U.S. currency count. The potential maximum penalty for each of the additional charges is also 20 years.

The case is the result of an investigation by the U.S. Secret Service, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the South Central Drug Investigation Unit and the Rice County Drug Task Force.

It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Clifford B. Wardlaw.