St. Paul Forgery Defense Lawyer
Forgery in Minnesota is nearly always a felony-level crime that will carry with it significant consequences. There are several ways the law interprets forgery beyond simply altering a document or signing someone else’s name on a piece of paper with the intent to defraud. Depending on the severity of the crime, it is possible to even face an aggravated forgery charge with even more serious penalties that carry decades-long prison sentences.
Minneapolis White Collar Crime Attorney
There are several actions that may be interpreted as forgery, including the following:
- Falsely or fraudulently altering or creating a document
- Fraudulently using a seal or membership card
- Mutilating or destroying a document
- Knowingly presenting a forged document, even if the document was not accepted
- Possessing a forged document
- An action to defraud the state lottery
- Counterfeiting of Currency
Check forgery is the most common charge, and the value of the check is used to determine both the extent of the charges and ensuing penalty. It is important to note that Minnesota could add all possible forged checks over a six-month period to determine the total value, which can significantly impact the sentencing. If someone commits check fraud valued at more than $35,000, for example, the consequences could include a 20-year prison sentence and a $100,000 fine. For totals less than $250, the sentence may only be one year in prison and a $3,000 fine.
A white-collar crime attorney can help you interpret the charges as well as outline the potential consequences. In most cases, the courts will take into account what was forged and who the victim is to determine the sentencing structure. The charge will be considered aggravated if the forged document imitated an authority. For example, altering a court judgment or federal record would likely merit an aggravated charge.
Counterfeiting a driver’s license or other form of official identification is typically only a gross misdemeanor in Minnesota, though repeat offenses will merit a felony charge.
Work with a Defense Attorney
If you are facing forgery charges, it is imperative to work with a criminal defense attorney with federal crimes experience. At Keller Law Offices, our forgery defense lawyer aggressively represents clients in order to get charges reduced or even dismissed. To schedule a free consultation with our attorney today, please call our office at (952) 913-1421.
