Staff report

A Beaumont man was indicted for forgery (counterfeit) after a correctional officer found $660 in counterfeit bills upon being booked for other charges.

John Gary Matte Jr., 38, was arrested after a routine traffic stop revealed Matte was wanted for outstanding warrants.

According to the indictment, Matte gave officers verbal consent to search the vehicle, where they found 15.9 grams of suspected methamphetamines and 1.04 ounces of marijuana in the trunk.

Matte denied any knowledge of the narcotics and was transported to the county jail without incident.

During the booking process, a correctional officer gathered $660 from Matte’s wallet (four $100 bills and four $50 bills three $20 bills). The money was checked for authenticity and found to be counterfeit.

Counterfeit money at Temptations

A 32-year-old Beaumont man was indicted after trying to use counterfeit money at Temptations on College Street in Beaumont.

According to the indictment, officers responded to a call on Dec. 7 of a male passing out counterfeit money at the establishment. Upon arrival, officers learned that Brock Lee Frank used two fake $10 bills at the bar and tried to get another person to make change from a counterfeit $100 bill.

The two $10 bills had the same serial number. When the officers searched Frank, they found two more $100 bills that had the same serial numbers as the one with which Frank attempted to make change.

Frank was arrested and transported to the Jefferson County Jail.