Federal and state authorities have charged a 22-year-old man after they say he made and distributed counterfeit money - more than $10,000 worth in just the past two weeks - from his Birmingham apartment.

Hollis Nikia Bullard is charged with counterfeiting and forging obligations or securities of the United States and dealing in counterfeit obligations or securities. Bullard was charged in federal court this week after an investigation by U.S. Secret Service and Vestavia Hills police.

According to a criminal complaint filed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Birmingham, an informant told investigators that Bullard made and sold counterfeit money from his home at Woodside Apartments on Center Point Parkway. Between Jan. 1 and Jan. 4, lawmen recorded a telephone conversation between the informant and Bullard during which Bullard said he had made counterfeit money within the past few days.

During that same time, another confidential source made contact with investigators who also claimed Bullard was making fake bills at his apartment, and agreed to work with them in recording a purchase of that counterfeit money. This week, according to the complaint, the confidential source, wearing and audio and video recording devices, went to Bullard's home, followed by a Birmingham police officer.

A short time later, the information left Bullard's apartment and handed over the counterfeit money. On Wednesday, investigators carried out a search warrant at Bullard's apartment, where they found dozens of counterfeit $100 bills and two handguns, all within reach of Bullard who was standing in the kitchen.

Some of the fake bills, records show, were completed copies, but most of them were full printed versions on resume paper and in were in the process of being cut out. Investigators also found a Canon color printer and scanner in a closet.

Lawmen read Bullard his rights, and he agreed to speak with them. At that time, according to the criminal complaint, Bullard admitted to making the fake money and said he had distributed more than $10,000 worth within the past two weeks. The total amount of counterfeit money found during the search of Bullard's apartment was in excess of $15,000.

Bullard was previously convicted of third-degree burglary in Jefferson County in 2014, and was on probation for that conviction.