6 accused of counterfeit activity across 4 northwest Ohio counties

BRYAN — Charges have been filed against six young adults who are believed to have produced and circulated counterfeit money in Williams, Defiance, Fulton, and Auglaize counties, according to a news release issued Tuesday by the office of Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost.

The suspects, who are between the ages of 20 and 23, face anywhere from two to nine felonies apiece.

They are accused of theft, identity fraud, cashing forged checks, counterfeiting bank cards, and making purchases with fake $20 bills, according to a multi-count indictment announced by Mr. Yost and Williams County Prosecutor Katherine Zartman.

Those identified in the news release are Cooper Rademacher, 21, and Kalie Gibler, 22, who face nine felonies apiece; Dion Fleet, 23, Brandon Randolph, 23, and Dale Champion, 20, who face three felonies apiece, and Noah Frisby, 23, who faces two felonies.

The crimes are believed to have occurred from June, 2022, through January, 2023, in Pioneer, Bryan, and Montpelier in Williams County; Defiance in Defiance County; Archbold in Fulton County, and Wapakoneta in Auglaize County.

The case resulted from the work of the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation; police departments in Pioneer, Montpelier, Wapakoneta, Defiance, and Fairborn; the Grand Lake Drug Task Force; and the prosecutor’s offices of Williams, Auglaize, and Defiance counties.