Charged with Forgery in NYC?
Our New York City Criminal Attorneys Can Help!
A person commits forgery when they alter or create an instrument or document
with the intent to deceive someone else. Often, forgery goes hand in hand with
fraud, since the forgery is usually intended to acquire someone else's property.
Forged documents can include checks, insurance document, passports, ids,
or police reports that allow a person to have false authority and get
access to things that would otherwise be prohibited.
The most commonly forged documents are checks, especially with the rise
of electronic checks that are easier to falsify. If you have been charged
with forgery, then you could be facing penalties like jail time and fines.
Hiring a NYC white collar criminal lawyer is the only way to ensure that
your rights are properly defended against serious consequences.
Understanding Your Charges
There are varying degrees of severity regarding forgery charges in New
York State as stated in the
New York Penal Code, Article 170:
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Forgery in the third degree – can be charged if you intend to defraud, deceive or injure another
person by making, completing or altering a written instrument. This is
a class A misdemeanor which could result in up to a year of imprisonment.
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Forgery in the second degree – can be charged if you commit the above in relationship to a deed,
will, contract, public record, prescription or other similar document.
This is a class D felony which could result in up to seven years imprisonment.
-
Forgery in the first degree – can be charged if you commit the above in relationship to money,
stamps, security or other government issued item, stocks, bonds or other
similar document/item. This is a class C felony which could result in
up to 15 years imprisonment.
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Criminal possession of forgery devices – can be charged if you make any device specifically designed for
counterfeiting or forging objects/documents/items, etc. This is a class
D felony which could result in up to seven years imprisonment.
-
Criminal possession of a forged instrument – can be charged if you possess any forged instrument with the knowledge
that it is forged and the intent to defraud, deceive or injure another
person. This is a class C felony and could result in up to 15 years imprisonment.
Get in Touch with a Forgery Lawyer Today
It is very important that you retain a lawyer who has trial experience
if you have been charged with a
white collar crime. The NYC criminal defense attorneys at the Law Offices of Daniel A. Hochheiser
have almost 50 years of combined legal experience. Our firm can draw upon
these years of practical knowledge related to criminal cases in order
to better prepare your defense. When you
contact our legal team, we discuss your case in detail and give you the individualized attention
so that we can figure out a solution to your case. Don't hesitate
to make sure your future is safeguarded, call now for your
free case evaluation! We represent clients from communities in Scarsdale, Manhattan, Bronx,
Manchester, and surrounding areas.