ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Timothy Meacham, 32, was sentenced to three years of probation and ordered to pay $5,184.00 in restitution on Tuesday after being convicted fir selling counterfeit coins. 

Using a false identity, Meacham posted an ad on Craigslist last May advertising two United States gold collector coins for sale. A Pennsylvania man paid Meacham $5,000 for the items and traveled to Rochester to pick them up. 

Officials say Meacham also misled the buyer about needing to sell the coins in order to pay for funeral expenses for a family member.

Upon his return to Pennsylvania, the victim discovered that the coins were counterfeit and contacted the United States Secret Service in Rochester.     

The victim quickly discovered the fraud and called the Secret Service, which investigates counterfeit claims.