Man Sought in Mattoon Forgeries Arrested in Effingham

22-year-old Jkari Smith has been charged with passing counterfeit $100 bills at Aldi, Pet Smart and Buffalo Wild Wings in Mattoon on Tuesday. It's alleged Smith used the fake currency to purchase small, inexpensive items and made away with real currency given as change in the transaction.

Now, video footage in one of three incidents in Effingham that also occurred on Tuesday has tied Smith to the incidents here.

Effingham Deputy Police Chief Kurt Davis said the fake $100s were used at Goodwill, O'Reilly's and Lyons Liquors. Davis said the funny money showed up in the deposits of the three businesses on Wednesday. He said one of the three businesses had security camera footage that matched Smith with the incidents in Mattoon. When Smith was questioned, he was found to be in possession of some of the items purchased with the fake currency.

Davis thanked Mattoon police for their cooperation in solving the matter. He said police will be looking for other fake money that could show up in the deposits of other local businesses.

Smith is being held in Effingham County Jail.