Disbarred lawyer convicted of dealing counterfeit money

A former police officer and disbarred lawyer pleaded guilty Wednesday in federal court to selling counterfeit money to an undercover agent in February. Brian Loren Stowe, 43, of Waverly, pleaded guilty to one count of dealing in counterfeit currency. The other charge of manufacturing counterfeit money will be dismissed at sentencing, according to the plea agreement.

Stowe was disbarred in 2013 after he was convicted of forgery charges and received a deferred judgment for possession of methamphetamine.

In February 2015, Stowe sold $900 in counterfeit money for $250 real bills to an undercover law enforcement agent, according to the indictment.

Stowe would take real dollar bills, bleach them to change the denomination with a home printer and computer, Secret Service Agent Joshua Highfill testified in an August hearing. Stowe usually tried to pass the fake bills at places such as convenience stores where they were less likely to recognize them as counterfeit or test them.

The Iowa Supreme Court ruling in Stowe's disbarment recounted his trouble past that went from him being a law firm partner to possessing 1.3 grams of cocaine while on a cruise ship vacation in Belize. Stowe told the disciplinary board that he was abducted, beaten, sexually abused and ransomed. He pleaded to possession.

Justice David Wiggins in the ruling said Stowe's life mirrored 'Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” because of how his life changed as he developed a drug addiction. His 'Hyde-like” persona emerged after his arrest in Belize. Stowe told the board he started using meth as a way to prevent sleep to avoid the nightmares, which developed after his 'abduction.” He eventually quit the firm, his marriage dissolved and then he was charged again with possession of meth in Emmet County and a short time later for two counts of forgery in another county, the ruling shows.

He received probation but violated his probation more than once in 2015, Iowa Department of Corrections records show.

U.S. District Chief Judge Linda Reade allowed Stowe to remain free on previous conditions of release pending sentencing. He faces up to 20 years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release following any prison term.