Forgery Defense

Have you been accused of forgery or any type of white collar crime? You need someone on your side to protect your rights and interests in the face of these serious charges. You need an experienced lawyer who can aggressively assert your rights under the U.S. Constitution in order to seek the best possible outcome for your case.

Forgery may be classified as a misdemeanor or felony offense depending on the item that is forged. Forgery is defined as altering, creating, transferring, completing or issuing any writing of another without authority or consent. "Writing" may include coins, money, stamps, seals, credit cards, trademarks, electronic signatures and "other symbols of value, right, privilege or identification" (as defined in Pennsylvania Penal Code Section 4101.)

Felony vs. Misdemeanor

For a defendant accused of forgery in the state, he or she may be in danger of facing the following penalties, depending on the particular offense:

• Forgery of money, postage stamps, securities, stocks, bonds or any writings issued by the government - second degree felony punishable by a fine of $5,000 to $25,000 and/or up to 10 years in prison.
• Forgery of a will, contract, deed or other writing that affects legal relations - third degree felony punishable by a fine of $2,500 to $15,000 and/or up to 7 years in prison.
• All other types of forgery - first degree misdemeanor punishable by a fine of $1,500 to $10,000 and/or imprisonment for up to 5 years.

Challenging your forgery charges is a primary concern of my law firm. As an experienced criminal defense lawyer and former deputy sheriff with more than 20 years in these two fields, I understand how to approach criminal cases and can apply my knowledge of both sides of the legal system to your advantage. For a free review of your arrest, investigation or charges involving forgery in the Philadelphia area, contact my law offices today.