56-Year-Old Grand Rapids Resident Faces Felony Charges After Five-Month Investigation Unearths $30,000 in Fake Bills

BEULAH, MI — A Grand Rapids man is facing multiple felony charges after authorities tracked an alleged interstate criminal operation to manufacture thousands in counterfeit currency during an investigation that spanned five months and multiple states.

Matthew Wilson, 56, was arraigned on five counts of uttering and publishing counterfeit bills or notes on Monday, April 6, in Benzie County District Court. Michigan State Police Seventh District shared the charges in an update on social media Tuesday, April 7.

According to MSP, a trooper from the Traverse City Post first responded to a complaint about a counterfeit $10 bill passed in October 2025 at a Dollar General store on Reynolds Road in Benzie County. Soon after, police found two nearly identical incidents were reported the previous day in Grand Traverse County, spurring a larger inquiry with other local, state, federal and out-of-state law enforcement agencies over the next five months.

Wilson was reportedly identified as a suspect after multiple search warrants were executed before the Benzie County Prosecutor's Office authorized a five-count felony warrant in early March of this year.

MSP's Sixth District Fugitive Team located Wilson and two others — who are alleged to have recently traveled to the U.S. from Malaysia — at a hotel near the Grand Rapids airport, police said. Wilson was arrested and lodged in the Kent County Jail before he was transferred to Benzie County.

Police said an additional search warrant was executed at the hotel room after Wilson's arrest, recovering additional counterfeit currency, a fraudulent check, multiple electronic devices, a printer and other materials.

Authorities allege Wilson was involved in the local manufacture of roughly $30,000 in counterfeit currency, and that he committed similar offenses in 14 other states.

According to MSP, the investigation into additional charges remains ongoing with other agency partners, including in North Dakota and Iowa, where authorities reportedly issued extraditable felony warrants for Wilson.

Bond was set for Wilson at $250,000 cash/surety on Monday. His next appearance in Benzie County court is set for April 20.

The investigation began in late October 2025 when a trooper from the Michigan State Police Traverse City Post responded to a complaint involving a counterfeit $10 bill being used at a Dollar General store on Reynolds Road in Benzie County.

During the investigation, police said the trooper discovered two similar incidents had been reported the previous day in Grand Traverse County, but were not able to find connections between the cases.

Over the next five months, police coordinated with other local, state, federal and out-of-state law enforcement agencies to investigate.

Police said that after the execution of multiple search warrants, they identified a 56-year-old suspect named Matthew Wilson from Grand Rapids, Michigan.

In early March 2026, police said they found Wilson, located by the MSP Sixth District Fugitive Team at a hotel near Grand Rapids airport. Police said Wilson was then arrested on the outstanding warrant and initially lodged in the Kent County Jail before later being transported to the Benzie County Jail.

Following the arrest, troopers conducted an additional investigation and executed a warrant of the hotel room where they found additional counterfeit currency, a fraudulent check, multiple electronic devices and a printer along with materials they assumed went along with the production of counterfeit bills.

Police said Wilson is alleged to have committed similar offenses in 14 other states and locally manufactured approximately $30,000 in counterfeit currency.

As investigations continue, law enforcement said there is potential for additional charges and investigations into Wilson.

Law enforcement in other states, including Iowa and North Dakota, have also issued felony warrants for Wilson.