Alex J. Stubbs, a 27-year-old resident of Madison, Wisconsin, has been sentenced to 14 months in federal prison for passing counterfeit U.S. currency. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley following Stubbs' guilty plea on September 19, 2024. In addition to the prison term, Stubbs has been ordered to pay $3,400 in restitution.
The counterfeiting activities took place between July and November 2023. During this period, Stubbs and his codefendant Cornelius Stewart used counterfeit $100 bills at over three dozen merchants across Wisconsin. They would make small purchases with the fake bills to receive legitimate change in return. Stewart was responsible for manufacturing the counterfeit bills and provided them to Stubbs in exchange for real currency.
Cornelius Stewart pleaded guilty on December 9, 2024, and is awaiting sentencing scheduled for February 27, 2025.
The investigation into the counterfeiting scheme involved multiple law enforcement agencies including police departments from Madison, Fitchburg, Sun Prairie, Cottage Grove, Cross Plains, Lake Mills, Marshall, Verona, Shorewood Hills, Tomah, Oconomowoc; as well as the Dane County Sheriff’s Office and the United States Secret Service. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Anderson.