BANGOR – An Aroostook County man Tuesday was sentenced to two years of probation and ordered to pay $20 in restitution after passing counterfeit $10 bills a few months ago at a Presque Isle business.

Joseph Thayer, 22, who gave his apartment address as Caribou, earlier pleaded guilty to three counts. The first count accuses him of passing counterfeit $10 bills to a clerk at JP Cash Market, address not given, “with the intent to defraud.” The second count says Thayer attempted to pass phony money at a Daigle Oil gas station, address also not given. The third count accuses Thayer of passing counterfeit bills at an MPG Texaco station in Aroostook County.

Thayer also has to pay a $300 special assessment, which amounts to $100 for each conviction. The money is used for court-related costs.

The sentencing took place at U.S. District Court in Bangor. U.S. District Judge George Z. Singal presided.

Jamie Smith, a partner in the counterfeit-money scheme, was sentenced a week ago on three counterfeiting convictions. He earlier pleaded guilty to the counts listed in a September 2001 indictment. The first two counts state that Smith, 20, made, forged and counterfeited several $10 bills on different dates last January. The third count states that he passed the bills on to Thayer and another individual.

Smith, 20, of Presque Isle also was ordered to complete two years of probation. He was ordered to pay $600 in restitution for making, forging and counterfeiting several $10 bills on various dates a year ago. He was ordered to pay a $300 special assessment, which amounts to $100 for each conviction.