Forgery Charges

Forgery Lawyer Philadelphia

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Forgery is considered to be a “crime of moral turpitude,” in plain English means that it is an act that is contrary to justice and the public good. Crimes of moral turpitude such as the act of committing forgery can have devastating consequences on your ability to obtain employment, housing and can seriously impact your reputation with loved ones. Depending on the amount that was obtained illegally by forgery, individuals convicted can spend years in prison and face costly fines. Have you been charged with forgery in Philadelphia? Forgery is a very serious crime to be convicted of under Pennsylvania Law, one that comes with severe consequences to your freedom and your wallet. You need a steady hand on the wheel when facing serious Criminal Charges, which is why our Criminal Defense Attorneys can provide the trusted counsel and aggressive representation that your case deserves.

Modern technology has, in many situations, made forgery easier to accomplish. As technology continues to advance, those utilizing it to deceive are in a race against those attempting to stop them. Law enforcement is often right behind those who commit forgery, and getting away with it for some period of time is not uncommon. This is because there is a lag between the capabilities of the authorities and the cutting edge of crime.

However, technology is not the only means of committing forgery. Often, you may be charged with forgery for such activities as signing another person’s name, passing off another person’s document as your own, or even merely giving or transferring a forged document to another person.

Pennsylvania seriously punishes those convicted of forgery. Prison time, fines, restitution, and a criminal record which will follow those convicted for the rest of their lives are all possible penalties for this crime. If you have been accused of committing forgery, you will need experienced lawyers who will fight on your side, and do what is necessary to achieve the best results possible. The Criminal Defense Lawyers with The Law Offices of Greg Prosmushkin, P.C. will work for you.

Forgery Defined

Under the Pennsylvania Criminal Code, a person who intends to defraud or injure another – or facilitates such – via an altered writing, printing, etc., is guilty of forgery. The statute includes the following as acts of forgery:

1. An individual’s altering of any writing of another person without said person’s authority. For example: Taking a person’s executed will, removing the first page, altering the language and re-attaching the page to the document.
2. The making, completing, execution, authentication, issuance, or transfer of any writing so that it purports to be of another person who did not so authorize the activity. For example: Taking your employer’s checkbook, filling out the check, and using it to your own unauthorized ends.
3. The making, completing, execution, authentication, issuance, or transfer of any writing so that it purports to have been executed at a time or place or in a numbered sequence other than what was factually correct. For example: Changing the date or other such information on a vehicle title so as to create a document which misrepresents the vehicle.
4. The making, completing, execution, authentication, issuance, or transfer of any writing so that it purports to be a copy of an original when no such original existed. For example: Creating a deed to a property which you have no ownership over and presenting it as a copy of said deed in an attempt to maneuver and claim ownership
5. Providing a document which an individual knows to be a forgery as if it was in fact authentic. For example: Attempting to sell a forgery of a historical document as if it were the original.

The grading of these crimes ranges from a misdemeanor of the first degree to a felony of the second degree. The penalties vary based on the grading of the crime, but all carry potential jail time, significant fines, and a conviction will be reflected on your criminal record for the rest of your life.

Why Do I Need a Lawyer?

A lawyer will analyze the information at hand, and develop a strategy in order to achieve the best results possible. Whether this means focusing on discrediting any potentially adverse evidence or proving that your actions were authorized by the appropriate party, such that your act did not amount to a forgery, your attorney should fight these charges to the absolute best of their ability. The attorneys at The Law Offices of Greg Prosmushkin, P.C. certainly will. Call or Email us Today to schedule an entirely free initial consultation with one of our Criminal Defense Attorneys in Philadelphia.

This content was written on behalf of Greg Prosmushkin.