A new criminal complaint was filed in Dayton’s U.S. District Court against Stopkotte.
RELATED: Ex-local football star pleads guilty to fake $100 bill scam in Clark County
Stopkotte had his initial appearance in federal court Friday and had a detention hearing scheduled for Monday. Counts of uttering and dealing in counterfeit obligations or securities each carry maximum sentences of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted.
The complaint alleges Stopkotte used 37 counterfeit $20 bills during Wednesday’s game — a 4-1 win over South Bend — at stadium concession stands and with vendors.
Based off information from a Dragons food vendor, Dayton police contacted Kevin Dye, resident agent in charge of Dayton’s U.S. Secret Service office. Stopkotte tried to pass another fake bill, Dye says in the federal complaint, when he was detained and questioned.
RELATED: 4 Brazilian men federally indicted for ATM skimmer, fake credit cards
The criminal complaint says Stopkotte indicated he bought a $20 game ticket from a scalper using a $100 bill and that must have been the source of the fakes.
Stopkotte initially was found with more than $200 and seven debit cards with another person’s name, Dye says in the federal court records.
The complaint says eight of 21 vendors identified Stopkotte as the source of the counterfeit bills and that the suspect said, “Wouldn’t I have more money on me if I passed all those $20s?”
RELATED: Grand jury to hear cases against 4 accused of having ATM skimmers, fake credit cards
When Stopkotte was searched again, Dye alleges in the complaint that another $296 was found in his left coat jacket pocket and $166 in Stopkotte’s right shoe under an insert.
Another 52 fake $20s were found in two bags under a refrigerator in the lower section of the stadium, according to the court records.
Stopkotte wanted to cooperate, the complaint says, and he provided a statement to law enforcement.
MORE: Read other stories from Mark Gokavi
Stopkotte allegedly told Dye that he purchased 200 fake $20 bills online in early March. The suspect said he passed 15-20 counterfeit bills at a hockey game in Phoenix and hid some more in his Unionville, Ind., residence, according to the court records.
Stopkotte is being held in the Montgomery County Jail. He was on federal probation for money laundering and bank fraud after serving 37 months in prison in West Virginia, the complaint says.
About the Author