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Man arrested for trying to use counterfeit bill, claims he didn't know it was fake

HOUSTON — A Texas man who was arrested after trying to pay for a fast-food order with a counterfeit $10 bill is determined to clear his name.

Syed Ali told KHOU he didn't know the bill was a fake. He says he received the bill at a Home Depot earlier that day.

When Ali handed the bill to pay for a drive-thru purchase at Taco Bell, he was informed by an employee that the bill was counterfeit. Ali offered another form of payment, which was accepted by the Taco Bell employee, but Ali asked to see the counterfeit bill again. When the employee refused and Ali kept insisting, Taco Bell staff warned Ali they would call police. Ali said that was fine. He waited for police, at which point he was arrested for forgery.

Thinking it was real money, the man tried to use the counterfeit bill to buy a meal at a local Taco Bell before employees told him it was a fake.

Posted by KHOU 11 News on Thursday, August 10, 2017

A legal analyst told KHOU that Ali can fight the charge if he can prove he didn't intend to defraud. If convicted, Ali could face two to 10 years in prison.