A local man's attempt to settle his legal debts took a cinematic turn Monday morning when he allegedly tried to use "motion picture money" at the Boardman Court.

Township Police were called to the courthouse on Market Street after a sharp-eyed court clerk noticed something funny about a $20 bill handed in to pay a fine. According to the police report, the clerk identified the bill as counterfeit, bearing the tell-tale markings of "motion picture money."

Confronted with the questionable currency, the defendant went out to his car to return with legitimate funds to cover his fines. He then cooperated with the authorities, explaining he'd received the prop money from a relative via a mobile payment app and was oblivious to its inauthenticity.

Boardman police noted in their report that they believed the man was genuinely unaware of the bill's true nature. He was released after speaking with officers, and no charges were filed at the time.

Realistic-looking U.S. currency of all denominations is sold online by Amazon.com and other retailers. The bills are marked as "movie money", "prop money", "prank money", and other names.

Federal law prohibits the use of counterfeit money, regardless of its origin. The U.S. Secret Service cautions that even bills marked as "motion picture money" can lead to federal charges if used to defraud.