Union City, Tenn.—South Fulton City Manager and Obion County Commissioner James Gray will be arraigned Tuesday afternoon on charges of attempting to pass counterfeit bills over the weekend in Union City.
Gray was arrested by Union City Police after Gray reportedly attempted to pass a fake $100 bill at Big Lots in Union City and then attempted to pass the bill at Walmart.
Gray has been City Manager at South Fulton for two weeks following a two-year stint as City Manager at Hickman.
Gray, age 34, of Union City, has been charged by Union City Police with two counts of criminal simulation. He was arrested at his home on Monday.
Gray’s bond will be set today in Obion County General Sessions Court.
According to the police report, Gray attempted to use the $100 bill first at Big Lots on Saturday and then at Walmart on Sunday. In both incidents, Gray paid for his purchases with his debit card after being told by clerks at the stores that the bill was fake.
Officers first spoke with Gray at Walmart on Sunday and according to the police report, he told officers he did not know the bill was fake and that a friend of his owed him money and that is what he gave to Gray.
When officers asked him about trying to use the $100 bill at Big Lots the previous day, according to the police report, “Gray’s demeanor changed” and he said he was not at Big Lots and did not know what officers were talking about.
Officers then followed up at Big Lots and received a copy of the receipt and watched video footage of Gray “trying to pay for his items with the fake $100 bill and it was rejected by both the cashier and the store manager”, according to the report.
Warrants were then issued for Gray’s arrest and he was arrested at his home. After being read his Miranda rights, officers asked him if he was in possession of anymore counterfeit money. He told officers “he only had the one bill and gave consent for officers to search his apartment. Officers were unable to find anymore counterfeit bills. Officers did recover an empty, white mail envelope from the Philippines” and the envelope was taken as evidence.
