A plea deal is in the works for the three people from Albert Lea charged in federal court for their alleged involvement with a counterfeit ring that targeted businesses along the Interstate 35 corridor between the Twin Cities and the Iowa border.

Paperwork filed during the last week of September by the lawyers for Travis Allen Cameron, 31, Heather Ann Cameron, 34, and Meranda Lynn O’Connor, 29, states the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the lawyers for the defendants are engaged in plea negotiations and are working to resolve the case.

Because of these negotiations, the defendants have withdrawn their pre-trial motions, many of which moved to suppress information gained during the investigation and during searches of their homes or vehicles.

The date for a plea hearing has not yet been scheduled.

Travis Cameron and Heather Ann Cameron each face three charges: aiding and abetting manufacturing counterfeit currency, aiding and abetting dealing in counterfeit obligations and aiding and abetting uttering counterfeit obligations.

O’Connor faces two counts of aiding and abetting uttering counterfeit obligations.

They previously pleaded not guilty to their charges.

Also charged are Eric Michael Dorman of Fairmont, Vincent Dwayne Tampio of Faribault, Daniel Jay Wilson of Owatonna, Sarah Ann Wood of Owatonna and Dustin David Hanson of Northfield.

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.

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.

The Camerons were previously charged in Freeborn County District Court with manufacturing U.S. currency; however, those charges were dismissed after the federal charges were filed.