Fake money used to purchase classic car in Cassville
January 23, 2024
By Adriana Keeton, [email protected]
J.D. Hunter, above right, met with a man known as Aaron Montgomery on Facebook, above left, on Saturday to sell his classic muscle car. Hunter captured the above footage on his home security system.
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The above 1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass, owned by J.D. Hunter, of Cassville was purchased with fake “motion picture money” last Saturday.
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A Cassville man is seeking assistance from the public to find his muscle car he sold on Facebook Marketplace that was paid for with fake bills.
Cassville resident J.D. Hunter posted his 1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass on Facebook Marketplace a little over a month ago. Hunter states he received a message from a man named Aaron Montgomery through Messenger requesting information on the muscle car.
“He asked every question a buyer would normally ask when buying a vehicle,” Hunter said. “We messaged for over a week and made plans to meet in town (Cassville) originally, but the cold weather killed the battery in the car and he got a little upset because he said he drove 5 ½ hours from the St. Louis area to purchase the vehicle and didn’t want to wait. So, I had him come to my house while I had friends help me get the battery replaced.”
On Saturday, January 20, at approximately 8:15 a.m., the man known to Hunter as Aaron Montgomery arrived at Hunter’s home along with a woman he stated was his wife and a four year old child in a Black Land Rover.
“My original asking price was $20,500 for the vehicle. He started negotiating the price right off. He looked under the hood, under the car and test drove the car,” Hunter said. “We agreed on $18,500.”
Hunter then said the man handed him a bank envelope with the cash payment.
“The money was banded in one $10,000 and $2,000 bundles.” Hunter added. “Every time I tried to count it he would distract me and I wasn’t wearing my glasses so I didn’t notice the money was counterfeit. He was good at what he was doing.”
The man left with the vehicle just before 9 a.m. and Hunter went to the bank to deposit the money.
Hunter stated the money passed the pen test at the bank, but the teller said that the money didn’t feel right while she was counting it. After examination, the teller noticed in small print on the bills “motion picture money”.
Hunter contacted the Barry County Sheriff’s Office immediately and posted the incident on his Facebook page while waiting for the arrival of a deputy. He stated that he received responses from individuals on Facebook saying they saw the vehicle in Marionville, as well as on I-44 in Springfield.
“I have tried to call the cell phone and have messaged him on the Facebook account but have never received a reply,” Hunter said. “I want to thank Sergeant Wilson with the Sheriff’s office, she was super helpful and professional.” Hunter was able to file a claim with his insurance company.
Barry County Sheriff Danny Boyd stated a BOLO (Be On the Look Out) has been issued for the vehicle nationwide and it has been entered into NCIC (National Crime Information Center) as stolen. The money used in the purchase of the vehicle is being sent into the Secret Service to see if the numbers on the fake money have been used in other crimes.
If anyone has any information in this case, please contact the Barry County Sheriff’s Office at 417-847-3121. Callers can remain anonymous.
Cassville resident J.D. Hunter posted his 1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass on Facebook Marketplace a little over a month ago. Hunter states he received a message from a man named Aaron Montgomery through Messenger requesting information on the muscle car.
“He asked every question a buyer would normally ask when buying a vehicle,” Hunter said. “We messaged for over a week and made plans to meet in town (Cassville) originally, but the cold weather killed the battery in the car and he got a little upset because he said he drove 5 ½ hours from the St. Louis area to purchase the vehicle and didn’t want to wait. So, I had him come to my house while I had friends help me get the battery replaced.”
On Saturday, January 20, at approximately 8:15 a.m., the man known to Hunter as Aaron Montgomery arrived at Hunter’s home along with a woman he stated was his wife and a four year old child in a Black Land Rover.
“My original asking price was $20,500 for the vehicle. He started negotiating the price right off. He looked under the hood, under the car and test drove the car,” Hunter said. “We agreed on $18,500.”
Hunter then said the man handed him a bank envelope with the cash payment.
“The money was banded in one $10,000 and $2,000 bundles.” Hunter added. “Every time I tried to count it he would distract me and I wasn’t wearing my glasses so I didn’t notice the money was counterfeit. He was good at what he was doing.”
The man left with the vehicle just before 9 a.m. and Hunter went to the bank to deposit the money.
Hunter stated the money passed the pen test at the bank, but the teller said that the money didn’t feel right while she was counting it. After examination, the teller noticed in small print on the bills “motion picture money”.
Hunter contacted the Barry County Sheriff’s Office immediately and posted the incident on his Facebook page while waiting for the arrival of a deputy. He stated that he received responses from individuals on Facebook saying they saw the vehicle in Marionville, as well as on I-44 in Springfield.
“I have tried to call the cell phone and have messaged him on the Facebook account but have never received a reply,” Hunter said. “I want to thank Sergeant Wilson with the Sheriff’s office, she was super helpful and professional.” Hunter was able to file a claim with his insurance company.
Barry County Sheriff Danny Boyd stated a BOLO (Be On the Look Out) has been issued for the vehicle nationwide and it has been entered into NCIC (National Crime Information Center) as stolen. The money used in the purchase of the vehicle is being sent into the Secret Service to see if the numbers on the fake money have been used in other crimes.
If anyone has any information in this case, please contact the Barry County Sheriff’s Office at 417-847-3121. Callers can remain anonymous.
