PHILADELPHIA, Pa. -- A former policeman who collected $3,200 from three Decatur, Ill., churches is accused of making up his story of heroism immediately after the 9/11 New York attacks.

Bill Bresnahan has been on a cross-country tour, telling mostly church audiences of his supposed heroic actions and asking for donations, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer. Bresnahan, 54, was arrested in Illinois in March and charged with theft by deception. His church testimonies, according to police, were full of lies.

Bresnahan has denied the charges and will enter his plea June 3, according to the Inquirer. If convicted, Bresnahan faces a maximum three-year prison term.

Bresnahan is featured in the book "9-11: Terror in America," which pictures him at the World Trade Center after the terrorist attacks. Many of the book's stories about Bresnahan, however, have been disputed, according to the Inquirer. Bresnahan was hawking the book during his church visits, selling them for $26.95 according to the newspaper and promising that the money would go to The Hero Fund administered by the Emerald Society. The Emerald Society hasn't received any funds so far, according to The Sierra Times in Nevada.

The book was written by David M. Bresnahan, who claims no relation to the man charged with fraud, but acknowledged Bresnahan was using the book for his own profit, The Sierra Times reported.

Bresnahan is plagued with other legal troubles, including lawsuits from those who were financially backing his invention and marketing of cardboard fold-up binoculars and pretzel-flavored hot dogs, the Inquirer reports.

Pennsylvania officials recently charged Bresnahan with violating the state's charity law for allegedly using a charity he created to fund his for-profit endeavors. He faces up to $94,000 in fines and an additional $3,000 for each month the violations continue, according to the Inquirer.