Hundreds of snowmobiles, motorcycles up for auction after Wausau man's $14M fraud case
Larry Anderson 19 hrs ago
MADISON, Wis. (WAOW) — The U.S. Department of Justice and U.S. Department of Treasury will auction off hundreds of snowmobiles and motorcycles seized from a Wausau man convicted of investment fraud.
Stanley Pophal, 64, pleaded guilty in June to wire fraud and money laundering after defrauding 190 investors out of $14.25 million. Law enforcement agents seized more than 600 items Pophal purchased using investor funds, including hundreds of snowmobiles that he stored in a rented warehouse.
Pophal agreed to forfeit these items and is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 2 by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley.
The online public auctions begin on July 28. The most current information is available on the Apple Auctioneering Co. website at www.appleauctioneeringco.com, where potential bidders can view details about the U.S. Treasury (WI Motorsports) auction and learn how to register.
"Restitution is a critical part of our justice system," U.S. Attorney Chadwick Elgersma said. "Our responsibility is not only to hold criminals accountable, but to also do everything within the law to help victims recover what was stolen from them."
@profeshenal125 what's your jpay?
Was a fairly well known guys in the north woods WI. Always buying sleds from folks in the area and over-paying for them. Seemed obvious looking back...
Good news he didnt "waste" some of the money and they should be able to recoup a handful for his victims.
So I was on vacation in Jamaica over the Christmas break down at the pool, and this guy walks by with a Fox Moto-X jersey on and I asked him if he rides. Turns out hes a huge SX/MX fan and we start talking about who's gonna win the 2026 SX championship, who old favorites are etc, then we get on the 2-stroke vs 4-stroke debate and he mentions this guys warehouse in the same town as him... He got invited to this guy Stanley's warehouse and the guy has all these ex-race bikes of old Pros and and a ton of other collectables. Then he brings out his phone and starts showing me all these pictures of when he was there. Turns out the Stanley guy was a paramid scheemer and ripped off alot of people including some of his own friends and family. He was waiting to hear what was gonna happen to all the bikes as he wanted to buy a couple of them..... Crazy story about this Stanley guy, a huge crook that really loved Moto.
Good lord, don't let those bikes end up in Connecticut being tuned by a "wizard" and wheelied up and down the parking lot in a video full of misinformation about them.
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Can’t say I know that guy. I bought a 96 xp in 96 from a guy that did something similar yrs after I knew him. Rocket & Nick Lee was his nicknames. He won a title on 80,s at Ponca. Both his parents died in accident when he was a minor , he got a bunch of money . When he turned 18. Always a part of buying & selling bikes, snowmobiles, boats. He had big duplexes built , he never really had a real job. When I flew home from the hhg rig job . I had some killer parties & was dating a hot news anchor at the time. At sunrise we went jet skiing it was a blast. In about. 2012 I heard the feds came to get him. He had warehouses full of stuff. He blew his brains out with the feds there. I only hung out with him a couple yrs ago. He had a high ceiling on the wall . He had all kinds of extreme stuff he did in his life jet ski racing in ca. to rock climbing.
Another local guy he married a packer players x. How he got his wealth sounds shady. Racer x did a story about his adventure bike vacation tours. Another guy in Seymour has a bunch of new 07 cr,s . Didn’t hear anything shady about him. He is not selling the bikes.
For sure folks knew nick lee was shady….had committed suicide some years ago if I recall.
Used to build bar stools with mx engines..
Oh he built the bar stools, I didn’t know that. I only knew him 2 yrs. Old job gone a month fly home for 3 1/2 days off.
That cannondale is clean.
I like this little XR!
would love to have that MOTO-X FOX RM i see in the background of first pic.....
Motorsports Cars & Vehicles For Sale - Apple Towing Co
Lots of flash shit up for sale (link above) but this is my pick
(WI) 1995 Yamaha YZ125 | Apple Towing Co
Nice choice how does a guy score a gp bike ? I had Pedro,s NCY 95 sx bike , I wish I didn’t sell it awesome bike. I,m sure it’s in Wi. Yet.
How many nano seconds would it take you to jettison that kick stand!?
Nice build.
What in the Van Halen is this?!?
I’ve been there in person to see this massive collection of snowmobile’s and bikes. Before this guy was identified as a criminal.
This is the only picture I was able to get of him. As he was showing us the bikes. He was full of shit. Told us a bunch of lies of how he amassed his wealth and collection.
Pit Row
A good snow storm and a couple of nose beers and I bet this thing is a blast.
Snow machines! For when you can't ride your Qwad in the cold!😂
Most of those oval racing (snow machines) have good racing history. Crazy he has so many good sleds.
Do you remember anything about the Honda in your photo? Appears to be a Holly built gas tank. Thx.
The talk on some of the FB groups is that some are Clones and he built clone sleds to hide the actual race sleds. Also people saying they recognized that valuable parts have been removed from some. It would suck to think you purchased a historical machine to have it be fake or some parts removed. Sounds like its a online no viewing auction.
Darren
That was me
You probably thought that I blew you off after New Year's when I told you, I would get you all the pictures of the collection when I got back home
on my phone and you put your name and 08 YZ 125, but you forgot to type in your phone number
Well when I got back home, I grabbed your contact information that you put
Shoot me your phone number and I'll get you the pictures of the or maybe I will just post them here
Looking at the guy hard to believe anyone would give him money…
There's viewing times but the auction is online only. Sent the info to some cousins back home in Illinois who spend some time every winter on the trails in Wisconsin and I fully expect them to make some absurd purchases if the price is right. There's so many I can't imagine them all going for top dollar but maybe I'm under estimating the Wisconsin sled scene.
That's good, if it was a bit closer I would go to a viewing. Classic sled scene is getting popular and there is some deep pockets in Northern WI. Some of those sleds would make great cabin decor!
Yes
He sure looks like a deadbeat but I grew up in the same small town as him and he was always a good guy
Been friends with him since 1984
I was very shocked when news of his scam hit
I was in his museum a week prior to his arrest
I have tons of pics I will post on here at some point
Lee, bring back the Portage fair race! Hope all is well with you.
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