A Columbus couple is under arrest after allegedly passing counterfeit bills at a Johnson County motel.

Johnson County Sheriff Doug Cox says that 29-year-old Christine M. Pettit and 20-year-old James M. Purdue, both of 733 Pearl Street in Columbus, were arrested Tuesday after an investigation going back to early January. They are facing preliminary charge of forgery.

According to a police report, deputies were called to the Hilltop Motel on a report of counterfeit money passed to a pizza delivery driver at the motel. The motel’s owner and son also talked to the officer about suspicious money used to pay for rent. The deputy said that a $20 bill and a $10 bill used for rent appeared to be fake.