St. Paul Forgery Defense Lawyer
If you are up against forgery charges in Minnesota, you could be facing up to $100,000 in fines and up to 20 years in prison. Forgery defense lawyer Max Keller has more than 25 years of experience handling criminal cases in Minnesota. As a former prosecutor, he knows what it takes to help you avoid a conviction.
We provide free initial consultations to all clients. To schedule an appointment, contact us Today.
What Is Forgery?
Forgery is defined as knowingly using false information to cause injury or fraud. Forgery is most commonly referenced when somebody signs someone else’s name on a document. There are various other ways that forgery can occur, however. Several actions may be interpreted as forgery. These include, but are not limited to:
- 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
What Is the Most Common Charge a Forgery Defense Lawyer Sees?
Check forgery is the most common charge our criminal defense lawyers see in Minneapolis and St. Paul. The value of the check is used to determine the extent of the charges and ensuing penalty. 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 forgery 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.
Contact a Minnesota forgery defense lawyer at Keller Criminal Defense Attorneys for help.
Is Forgery a Felony or a Misdemeanor in Minnesota?
Forgery can be prosecuted as a misdemeanor, a gross misdemeanor, or a felony. Counterfeiting a driver’s license or other form of official identification, for example, is typically only a gross misdemeanor in Minnesota, though repeat offenses will merit a felony charge. Forgery is usually a felony-level crime in Minnesota. As such, significant consequences usually accompany a conviction.
What Are the Penalties for Forgery in Minnesota?
The penalties for forgery in Minnesota are generally determined by the amount of financial gain or the value of the forged documents.
For a general forgery conviction, the prosecution could seek up to $5,000 in fines, and you could be sentenced to up to three years in jail.
For an aggravated forgery conviction, you could be ordered to pay up to $20,000 in fines and spend up to ten years behind bars.
If your forgery charges involve the falsification or destruction of evidence in a criminal case, you can face up to $10,000 in fines and up to five years in prison.
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 nature and severity of the crime, it is possible to face aggravated forgery charges, with even more serious penalties and decades-long prison sentences.
Aggravated forgery charges will most likely be considered if:
- Government documents were falsified
- The forgery of public records is involved
- A corporation’s official seal was used in the alleged crime
- The forgery involved a private individual’s banking account
As a white-collar crime attorney who has handled countless forgery cases in Minnesota, Max Keller can help you interpret the charges you’re facing and 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.
Do You Need an Experienced Forgery Defense Lawyer?
The forgery lawyer you choose to handle your criminal case is one of the most important decisions you will ever make. If you are facing forgery charges in Minneapolis, St. Paul or one of the surrounding cities, it is imperative to work with a forgery defense lawyer who has federal crimes experience. At Keller Criminal Defense Attorneys, our criminal defense attorneys have successfully handled hundreds of federal crime cases in Minnesota.
