St. Louis County Man Admits Defrauding Online Sellers with Prop Money Publisher: U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Missouri Byline: Robert Patrick Dateline: St. Louis, Missouri Date: 14 January 2025 Subjects: American Government , Crime Topic:

ST. LOUIS – A man from St. Louis County on Tuesday admitted using movie prop money to defraud at least 13 online sellers of vehicles and other property, costing them $229,200.

Aaron Montgomery, 41, of Bellefontaine Neighbors, Missouri, pleaded guilty to three counts of wire fraud and four counts of interstate transportation of stolen vehicles. He admitted that beginning in August 2022, he targeted those who were selling vehicles or other property online. Montgomery contacted the sellers, negotiated a price and then arranged a meeting, often at a bank to make it appear as if he was using real money. Montgomery provided them “motion picture money,” or prop money, often inside a bank envelope or bag. Montgomery would then take the property, which included cars, SUVs, trucks, five pairs of Air Jordans and audio equipment, before the sellers discovered that he had not provided them with real money.

Montgomery transported at least five of the stolen vehicles from the states where the sellers lived, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee, back to Missouri.

Montgomery’s sentencing is scheduled for May 22. Both sides agreed to recommend 51 months in prison and full restitution to all victims.

Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Secret Service and the Illinois State Police investigated the case. The Missouri law enforcement agencies that investigated include the Lake St. Louis Police Department, the St. Louis County Police Department, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, the Ralls County Sheriff’s Office, the Maryland Heights Police Department, the Kansas City Police Department, the Barry County Sheriff's Office and the Richmond Heights Police Department. The Glen Carbon (Illinois) Police Department, the Palatine (Illinois) Police Department, the Holland (Michigan) Police Department and the Gahanna (Ohio) Police Department also investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Ladendorf is prosecuting the case.

Updated January 15, 2025

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