Crime American Arrested in Pattaya for Attempting to Exchange Fake US Dollars

[webfact]

Picture courtesy of MGR online

 

An American man has been arrested in Pattaya for attempting to exchange counterfeit US dollars for Thai baht. The suspect, Mr.  Stookey, 66, was found with 21 fake $100 bills marked “For Motion Picture Use Only.”

 

On 3rd June, Police Colonel Anake Srathongyu, along with Pattaya investigation officers, apprehended Mr. Stookey at the "TT Currency Exchange" booth on Jomtien Beach Road, Chonburi. He was caught with ten fake $100 bills at the scene and 11 more found in a document folder.

 

Picture courtesy of MGR online

 

The investigation revealed that Mr. Stookey presented the fake notes to the exchange booth staff, who detected the counterfeit currency and refused the transaction. Despite being denied, Mr. Stookey insisted on the exchange, displaying dissatisfaction, prompting staff to alert the police.

 

Mr. Stookey faces charges for possession and intent to use counterfeit US currency, with full knowledge of its falsity. His records show frequent travel to Thailand over the past decade.

 

He is married to a Thai national and resides in Pattaya’s Pratumnak Hill area. He is currently detained pending legal proceedings.

 

Picture courtesy of MGR online

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from MGR online 2025-06-04

 

 

[blaze master]

What an idiot. Did he have a prop gun too. 

[Gottfrid]

Idiot, does not even come close to this mans mindset.

[lordgrinz]

After he is prosecuted here, then deported back to the US, he can answer to the US Secret Service.

[lordgrinz]

4 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

Idiot, does not even come close to this mans mindset.

 

He would have to be pretty stupid to pass counterfeit US bank notes, especially as an American, now he faces charges in both countries. Welcome to possible jail time and the blacklist, and probably forfeiting his US passport when gets home, say goodbye to Thailand buddy.

[CallumWK]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

Mr.  Stookey, 66, was found with 21 fake $100 bills marked “For Motion Picture Use Only.”

 

Gimme a break 😂

[Gottfrid]

2 minutes ago, lordgrinz said:

 

He would have to be pretty stupid to pass counterfeit US bank notes, especially as an American, now he faces charges in both countries. Welcome to possible jail time and the blacklist, and probably forfeiting his US passport when gets home, say goodbye to Thailand buddy.

Yeah, normally it would be like that. I don´t know really as the bills were marked "For Motion Picture Use Only". 🤣

It´s soo idiotic, that it´s hard to know what to say.

[lordgrinz]

5 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

Yeah, normally it would be like that. I don´t know really as the bills were marked "For Motion Picture Use Only". 🤣\

 

I believe it i still a US felony if you present fake money as real money as he did.

[Gottfrid]

18 minutes ago, lordgrinz said:

 

I believe it i still a US felony if you present fake money as real money as he did.

It probably is. It´s still silly, though. My thoughts goes around how he had thought he would get away with it?

[Patong2021]

He won't be  enjoying his old age in Thailand for much longer. What AN name did he post under?

[xylophone]

2 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

It´s soo idiotic, that it´s hard to know what to say.

Was he wearing a red hat at the time? LOL!!!

[JakeC]

Can only imagine that he didn't realise. Especially with his insistence. More likely if he knew, he would at least feign surprise at them being counterfeit.

Though I wouldn't place a bet on it.

[billd766]

He has managed to screw uo, not only his own life, but that of his Thai wife as well, all for 6 or 7,000 THB.

 

If you are going to do it, at least make it for millions of baht. Also have a good plan B, just in case plan A falls into rat sh*t.

[theshu25]

1 hour ago, Patong2021 said:

He won't be  enjoying his old age in Thailand for much longer. What AN name did he post under?

Bob

[bkk6060]

Surprised he didn't say he was a movie star and got mixed up.

[JakeC]

Quote

He has managed to screw uo, not only his own life, but that of his Thai wife as well, all for 6 or 7,000 THB.

 

Your maths needs some work...

[eddie61]

America is facing a serious brain drain

[corepuncher]

what a moron, thanks for making Americans look more stupid than we already do!

[wensiensheng]

2 hours ago, lordgrinz said:

 

He would have to be pretty stupid to pass counterfeit US bank notes, especially as an American, now he faces charges in both countries. Welcome to possible jail time and the blacklist, and probably forfeiting his US passport when gets home, say goodbye to Thailand buddy.

 

2 hours ago, lordgrinz said:

 

He would have to be pretty stupid to pass counterfeit US bank notes, especially as an American, now he faces charges in both countries. Welcome to possible jail time and the blacklist, and probably forfeiting his US passport when gets home, say goodbye to Thailand buddy.

He might have got away with no charges if he hadn’t have kicked up such a fuss. He could have passed it all off as a joke.

 

They aren’t really counterfeit bills as they are marked as fake and for motion picture use only.

[wensiensheng]

25 minutes ago, JakeC said:

Can only imagine that he didn't realise. Especially with his insistence. More likely if he knew, he would at least feign surprise at them being counterfeit.

Though I wouldn't place a bet on it.

The “for motion picture use only” thing suggests he might have known.

[terryofcrete]

9 hours ago, blaze master said:

What an idiot. Did he have a prop gun too. 

Not well on top. Needs help. 

[Ebumbu]

This is dementia. The dam bills say they're fake. He gets refused and forces the issue. Mental health meltdown or cognitive decay. This is not intentional criminality. It's like robbing a bank and giving the teller your driver's license. He needs brain scans. 

[Joe Boy Walton]

What a numpty.

[JakeC]

Quote

The “for motion picture use only” thing suggests he might have known.

 

Not if he didn't scrutinise them at all. The insistence that they exchange them actually goes in his favour. Possibly because he was convinced they were fine. Perhaps someone scammed him.

He'll need to come up with a plausible explanation.

[Formaleins]

2 hours ago, lordgrinz said:

 

He would have to be pretty stupid to pass counterfeit US bank notes, especially as an American, now he faces charges in both countries. Welcome to possible jail time and the blacklist, and probably forfeiting his US passport when gets home, say goodbye to Thailand buddy.

Maybe he got the <deleted>ty end of the stick and he may have got conned in the first place? Whatever the reason, I would not want to get caught with fake currency or trying to defraud anyone here, it isn't going to be a happy ending that's for sure.

[hotchilli]

9 hours ago, webfact said:

Despite being denied, Mr. Stookey insisted on the exchange, displaying dissatisfaction, prompting staff to alert the police.

You've got to know when to hold 'em
Know when to fold 'em
Know when to walk away
And know when to run
You never count your money
When you're sittin' at the table
There'll be time enough for countin'
When the dealin's done

[NorthernRyland]

2 hours ago, lordgrinz said:

 

I believe it i still a US felony if you present fake money as real money as he did.

 

Federal reserve notes are the United States biggest export. They take undermining their credibility extremely seriously.

[Toby1947]

Apparently they had a picture of Mickey Mouse on one side and John Wayne on the other 🤣😂

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, CallumWK said:

 

Gimme a break 😂

Talking of break... I wonder what he's gonna tell the missus 

[gargamon]

He tried this at a money changer? Fool. He should know better by now and just started his own memecoin like a lot of the criminals in the US.