Particle.news

Michigan Man Charged After 5-Month Probe Into Multi-State Counterfeit Bills

Investigators say the case spans at least 14 states, with extradition sought in Iowa and North Dakota.

Overview

  • Matthew Wilson was arraigned Monday in Benzie County District Court on five felony counts, with reports differing on bond and a next hearing set for April 20.
  • Iowa and North Dakota issued extraditable felony warrants, and investigators say further charges could follow as agencies keep coordinating.
  • The MSP Sixth District Fugitive Team found him March 27 at a hotel near Gerald R. Ford International Airport, where two recent arrivals from Malaysia were present.
  • A search of the room turned up counterfeit currency, a fraudulent check, electronic devices and a printer, and police say roughly $30,000 in fake bills were made.
  • The case began in October 2025 with fake $10 bills at a Benzie County Dollar General and two similar reports nearby, prompting a five-month, multiagency probe with multiple search warrants.