Counterfeit fraud attempt at Sonic leads to arrest of four Joplin residents on drug, weapons, forgery, stealing charges

(From the Joplin Police Department)

On October 10, 2017 at 9:45 p.m. our officers were dispatched to Sonic at 310 East 32nd for a fraud in progress. It was reported a customer was trying to pass a fake $100 bill to the business.

When officers arrived, they saw the suspect male get out of the suspect vehicle, a Ford F-150, and into the passenger seat of a Chevy Impala. 

The officer contacted a total of four people, two who were now in the Impala, including the male that had exited the F-150, and a male and female who stayed in the F-150. When the officer had the driver of the Impala step out of the vehicle, they saw a black handgun sitting in the seat he had been sitting in. The officer determined that male to be a convicted felon and he was arrested for being a felon in possession of a firearm. The officer also located 75 Klonopin pills in the possession of the male passenger of the Impala. He was arrested for being in possession of a controlled substance.

The female in the F-150 had a syringe concealed in her bra. Officers found 20 Xanax pills in the F-150 along with 27 counterfeit $100 bills. Also located in the F-150 was just over five grams of meth and meth pipes. The male and female from the F-150 were both arrested.

The following arrests were made and charges were submitted to the Newton County Prosecutor’s Office:

Mathew Porter, 33, Joplin (top photo): Possession of a Controlled Substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, forgery

Mark Gilbert, 47, Joplin: Felon in Possession of a Firearm

Brian Fritzke, 52, Joplin (bottom photo): Felony Stealing probable cause charges on an unrelated case

Cecily Stanek, 24, Joplin: Possession of a Controlled Substance and drug paraphernalia.

This is a great example of a local business being aware of counterfeit money and taking quick action allowing us to make numerous felony arrests and prevent further crimes.