PORTLAND — United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty II announced that John E. Williams, 33, of Gray pleaded guilty Wednesday in U.S. District Court to passing counterfeit bills.

According to court documents, on Nov. 15, 2012, Williams used a counterfeit $100 bill to buy $18.51 worth of merchandise at the Advanced Auto Parts store in Windham. On Nov. 26, 2012, he used a counterfeit $50 bill to buy kerosene at the Big Apple store in Windham.

The counterfeit currency was created with an inkjet printer and bleached currency of lower denominations. Law enforcement agents searched the defendant’s residence in Raymond and his vehicles on Nov. 28, 2012, and seized counterfeiting materials.

Williams faces up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.

The case was investigated by the United States Secret Service, the Scarborough, Windham, Raymond, Paris, Oxford, Saco, Kittery, and Auburn Police Departments, and the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office.