A man who reportedly told Secret Service agents that engaging in counterfeit activity “was like a disease,” was arrested twice in 11 days for allegedly passing phony bills.

Charles Henry McPherson, 31, of Westland, is charged with two counts of possessing a counterfeited obligation or security, federal court records show.

McPherson was arrested Tuesday on a federal criminal complaint after agents said he passed counterfeit bills in Chelsea, an arrest affidavit said.

He was first arrested Dec. 4 on a federal criminal complaint charging him with passing phony bills in Garden City, documents say.

McPherson is accused of buying a money order Nov. 20 with 10 counterfeit $50 bills at Andrews Sav-Mor Pharmacy in Garden City, an affidavit says.

The day after his first arrest, agents say he passed counterfeit $50 bills at two South Main Street businesses in Chelsea. He was out on a $10,000 personal recognizance bond at the time, records show.

During one interview, McPherson told agents he made about $10,000 in counterfeit bills and "spent or passed" all of it, according to an affidavit by Special Agent Bruce Cain.

Agents say he used 14 of the bills to buy a money order at CVS in Chelsea and one to make a purchase at Country Market, the affidavit says.

Chelsea Police Chief Ed Toth, whose department worked on the investigation, said today he was relieved at the arrest.

McPherson is being held without bail. He is scheduled to return to court Dec. 30.