Updated 10/31/19

A garbage pickup employee noticed something unusual in one man's trash, landing a man behind bars on counterfeiting charges, authorities said.

"When they first saw the money they thought it was real. And then of course upon further examination they could see that it was just printed on plain paper," explained Caleb Durden, Limestone County Sheriff's Office Investigator.

Christopher James Shock, 32, is charged with 40 counts of first-degree possession of a forged instrument after employees picking up garbage found fake cash in bags at Shock's home, according to the Limestone County Sheriff's Office.

A couple of businesses in Giles County have reported a man trying to pass counterfeit money the last few weeks and it is not sure if Shock is the person.

The CCS employees also found tools in the trash and what authorities said they believe was a test printing of a $50 bill printed on the back of an Alabama Pardons and Paroles receipt issued to Shock for the month of August.

Investigators went to Shock's home and said they found 40 more counterfeit bills, where he was booked in jail on a 200,000 bond.

Investigators estimate between 10 and 30 thousand dollars in Shock's counterfeit bills are already in circulation.

If someone has been passed a fake bill, law enforcement encourages the person to turn it into police.