Big Bust: Stolen Car, Counterfeit Cash, Stolen IDs

A stolen car, counterfeit cash, stolen IDs and oodles of active warrants. It was a big bust for Joplin and Carthage police on Tuesday at the Economy Inn & Suites on west 30th in Joplin. Inside the hotel room, police found not only the phony cash, but all the supplies needed to conduct the printing operation. 47-year-old Gary Long, and 41-year-old Michele Fetters were hauled off to the Joplin City Jail.

Here’s the full press release from JPD:

On December 3rd, 2019 officers with JPD responded to 1700 W. 30th St Joplin, MO to assist Carthage PD in locating a suspect in a motor vehicle theft and that had warrants for his arrest. Officers contacted two subjects at the location who were found to have warrants for their arrest. Gary Long, 47 years old of Joplin, MO was taken into custody for a Joplin City warrant for his arrest. A female identified as Michele Fetters, 41 years old of Joplin was also located at the address and taken into custody for arrest warrants. During the arrest officers located multiple counterfeit bills of U.S. currency on Long’s person.

With the assistance of Carthage Police Department and the Joplin Police investigations bureau a search warrant for room 207 of 1700 W. 30th St. was secured. During the search warrant officers seized counterfeit money, printers, and scanners that were being used to produce counterfeit money. Investigators also located drug paraphernalia.

Long and Fetters have been arrested and charges forwarded for possession of a forging instrument, trafficking in stolen identities, and possession of drug paraphernalia.