These two said the only reason they were making counterfeit money was to save a paper mill...

Two men charged with possession of counterfeit money in Port aux Basques have been fined and released, with one of them saying he intends to save the ailing paper mill in Stephenville.



Robert Pero, 49, and Marc Lancaster, 30, were sentenced in court in Stephenville Wednesday.

Marc Lancaster (left) and Robert Pero were fined Wednesday in Stephenville court.

Pero, who was also fined an additional $500 for dangerous driving and $250 for fleeing police, said he and his friend pleaded guilty in order to avoid a lengthy ordeal with the courts.


"I just pleaded guilty to these charges so that everything would be taken care of, and we can get on with what we came here to do," Pero said.


The pair were arrested after residents of Port aux Basques saw money being thrown from a white car.


The money turned out to be counterfeit. So far, police have recovered about $400 in phony cash.


Pero told the court that he was a humanitarian who has dedicated his life to ending hunger in Africa.


Pero, who is from Toronto, told CBC News he had come to Newfoundland to get the Abitibi-Consolidated mill in Stephenville "back up and running again"


"I know I can do that" he said.


"I can put out 30 times the pulp without destroying one more tree, or with any bleach in the process. And I can automatically give all the employees a double increase in income"


Pero later added, however: "My philosophy is don't believe half of what you hear, none of what you see, and even less of what you think you know. Because you really don't know anything."