State charges dismissed against Mark Alex Simon in fake ID case

2/16/2018

State charges were dismissed in Toledo Municipal Court Friday against a South Toledo man accused of running a large-scale fake ID business.

Mark Alex Simon, 34, of the 4700 block of Stengel Avenue remains in the Lucas County jail on federal charges of production of false identification documents, transferring false identification documents, and possession of equipment used to produce false identification documents. He was arrested Feb. 6 after police searched his home, seizing gold and silver coins and bars, cash, computer equipment, and about $4.7 million in Bitcoin.

Three other locations were searched Feb. 6, and three co-defendants subsequently arrested – Sarah Alberts, 34, of Perrysburg; Aaron Kuns, 33, of 3700 block of Dewlawn Drive, and Benjamin Stalets, 28, of the 2200 block of Parkwood Avenue.

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Jeff Lingo, chief of the criminal division of the Lucas County Prosecutor's Office, said Mr. Simon's case would proceed in federal court and would be presented to a federal grand jury soon.

“We have dismissed our charges, and we continue to cooperate and work with the federal prosecutors on this matter,” Mr. Lingo said.