Two accused of $40,000+ precious metals scam
Aron Lee Melton
(Aitkin County Jail)
AITKIN, Minn. – Charging documents accuse Aron Lee Melton and Kristi Ann Fox of orchestrating a scheme to pass off counterfeit gold, silver and platinum bars as the real thing.
Investigators say Melton and Fox marketed precious metals on Facebook Marketplace under the name “Collect Cadillac.” Investigators say the alleged victim lost approximately $40,779.
They said the victim purchased four platinum bars from Melton and Fox. The indictment says two of those platinum bars were discovered to be counterfeit.
Upon discovery of the counterfeit platinum bars, the victim checked the validity of gold bars. They were allegedly also a combination of real and counterfeit bars.
Investigators took “a bag of gold, platinum and silver bars” from the victim for testing. The indictment says none of the bars proved to be real when tested. The indictment did not say how many bars were tested.
The charges say the victim made “multiple high-value trades” with Melton and Fox between August and December of 2025.
Kristi Ann Fox
(Aitkin County Jail)
Under questioning, Fox allegedly said Melton realized some of the gold he was selling was counterfeit – but continued to sell the metals claiming they were real.
The indictment did not say where they obtained the bars other telling the victim they were a combination of pucrases from mint and coin shops, plus the estate of Fox’s father.
Aron Lee Melton is charged with aiding and abetting theft-by swindle, counterfeiting changes, and two charges of felon in possession of a firearm. Melton is slated to make his first appearance in court on February 18.
Kristi Ann Fox is charged with aiding and abetting theft-by swindle. She is also facing a counterfeiting related charge. Fox is slated to be in court next on March 3 for an
