Three attempts to cash in suspected counterfeit bills lead to two counts of uttering forgery.

After failing to make a purchase with the bogus bills at one restaurant, James Brandon Williams tried another restaurant across town. When that transaction was successful, he made another purchase at the same restaurant minutes later. After investigation by the Picayune Police Department Williams, 27, of 4 Colonial Lane, Carriere, was charged with two counts of uttering forgery.

On July 3, officers were dispatched to the Sonic restaurant in reference to a man who attempted to purchase a drink with a suspected counterfeit $20 bill, said Public Information Officer Capt. Theresa Milar.

When officers arrived at the restaurant at about 10:30 that morning, they were told that a man, later identified as Williams, had attempted to purchase a drink. The employee told Williams the bill was not real. Williams became upset and said he would take the bill to the bank to see if it was real, Milar said.

As Williams drove off a cashier at the restaurant thought Williams looked familiar.

Later that same morning, at about 11:30, officers were called to the McDonalds on Mississippi 43 South in reference to two $20 bills in their register that were suspected to be counterfeit.

Responding officers asked if the cashier remembered anything suspicious. She told the officers that a man had come into the store and ordered a sweet tea, paying for it with a $20 bill. After receiving the drink and leaving the store the same man came back minutes later to order another sweet tea, paying for it with another $20 bill.

Surveillance video footage allowed the officers to identify the suspect as Williams.

Officers attempted to contact Williams at his home, but he was not there, Milar said. Williams later came to the Picayune Police station to talk with officers. After investigation into the matter, Williams was charged with two counts of uttering forgery, which are felony charges. Bond was set at $15,000 for each charge.