A Belleville man was charged Tuesday with two counts of felony forgery for attempting to use a counterfeit $50 bill at Dollar General, Brett’s Caytown Convenience and a hotel, all in Caseyville.

Earnest D. Rice

Earnest D. Rice, 25, of the 300 block of West I Street, attempted to purchase small items with the bill, which the merchants recognized as counterfeit, Caseyville Police Department Detective Gerard Spratt said. Trying to buy small items to get a large amount of legal currency in change is a common tactic of criminals using counterfeit money, Spratt said.

None of the businesses accepted the money. Police were alerted and Rice was arrested leaving the area on foot. At the time of his arrest, Rice had two fraudulent $50 bills.

Fraud charges were filed with the State’s Attorney’s office for attempted use of the counterfeit currency, Spratt said. The Secret Service will assist the ongoing investigation into how Rice obtained the fake bills.

Rice was released from a Texas State Prison on Oct. 22, 2013 after serving more than two years for fraud and theft, a Texas Department of Corrections spokesperson said. Rice was arrested Dec. 17, 2013 by the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department on a bench warrant for failure to pay fines on multiple traffic offenses from 2009.

Rice is currently being held in The St. Clair County Jail on $40,000 bond.