A 25-year-old Houston man, described by prosecutors as a repeat offender, was sentenced to 15 years in prison on Tuesday after pleading guilty to multiple forgery and fraud charges related to passing counterfeit money at local businesses.
Jefferson County District Attorney Keith Giblin reported that on January 6, Kalen James Harden was sentenced by Jefferson County District Judge Raquel West after pleading guilty to four felony counts of forgery and one felony count of unauthorized possession of a credit card. West accepted Harden’s guilty plea and imposed the sentence under a plea agreement.
According to officers from the Port Neches Police Department and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department, Harden distributed counterfeit $100 bills at multiple local businesses in June and July 2023, including four Dollar General locations.
When Harden was detained, investigators said he was found using many credit cards that did not belong to him.
Prosecutors said Harden has a long criminal history involving forgery and counterfeiting convictions in various jurisdictions extending back to 2018.
“The charges Harden faced ordinarily are third-degree felonies punishable by up to 10 years in prison, however, the District Attorney’s office chose to seek a repeat offender enhancement, given the Defendant’s previous felony criminal history,” Assistant District Attorney Tommy L. Coleman said in the release.
“Local business owners should know that our office takes these types of offenses seriously,” Coleman added.
Harden will be eligible for parole after serving one-quarter of his 15-year sentence, according to the district attorney’s office.
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