Man arrested trying to get change for fake $50 bill at gas station, Columbus police say

A Montgomery, Ala., man who attempted to get change for a $50 bill Sunday at a Columbus gas station faces a series of charges after officers found $980 in counterfeit money, police said.

Josh Adam Sumpter, 35, was charged with 22 counts of second-degree forgery, one count of first-degree forgery and one count of possession of a drug-related object after his 6:40 a.m. arrest at the Chevron gas station, 5731 Veterans Parkway. He was taken to the Muscogee County Jail and held on bonds totaling $27,250. He appeared briefly in Columbus Recorder’s Court on Tuesday but his case was continued until 8 a.m. Friday.

Columbus police were called to the gas station to check on counterfeit bills used at the location. At the scene, police said the suspect presented a $50 bill to the clerk for change at the gas station. Sumpter is accused of possessing four counterfeit $20 bills and 18 $50 bills, totaling $980.

Police seized all the counterfeit bills at the scene.

Second-degree and first-degree forgery are both felonies, officials said.

This story was originally published October 9, 2018 at 10:24 AM.