Trusted New York Attorneys Represent Clients Charged with Forgery
Experienced criminal defense lawyers handle serious allegations
Forgery is a serious crime in New York and nationwide. Any person who knowingly makes or possesses a forged document that defrauds and financially injures another person is guilty of forgery. Forged documents can range from checks and wills to prescriptions, contracts and even art. Drawing on skills developed over more than two decades of practice, the criminal defense attorneys at Gregg & Associates P.C. in Staten Island help clients throughout the New York metro area challenge forgery charges.
Forgery charges by degree
There are three degrees of forgery in New York. The type of document or instrument forged dictates the level of crime the prosecutor will charge. Third-degree forgery, a misdemeanor, involves falsely creating, completing or changing a written document to purposely defraud or harm someone.
A forgery charge rises to a second-degree crime when the documents forged are:
- Deeds
- Wills
- Contracts
- Commercial instruments
- Credit cards
- Records filed in a public office
- Documents issued by a public office or servant
- Prescriptions
First-degree forgery involves:
- Government-issued money, stamps or securities
- Privately issued stock, bonds, or other company/organization documents
Our forgery defense attorneys investigate the facts of the case and explore possible defenses. We may be able to show that you did not intend to defraud or cause harm or did not know that a document was forged. The experience-based strategies used by our criminal defense team have helped clients obtain the best possible outcome based on the circumstances of their case.
Penalties under forgery laws in New York
Conviction on a forgery charge can result in very high fines and substantial jail time:
- Third-degree forgery. A Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in prison and up to $1,000 in fines.
- Second-degree forgery. A Class D felony punishable by up to seven years in prison and up to $5,000 in fines, or double the amount of your alleged gain from the crime.
- First-degree forgery. A Class C felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison and up to $5,000 in fines, or double the amount of your alleged gain from the crime.
If you have been charged with forgery, it’s essential you’re represented by attorneys who have handled these serious allegations. We have experience negotiating pleas, trying cases and arguing for reduced sentences in courts throughout New York and the tri-state area.
Contact knowledgeable forgery attorneys in New York
Gregg & Associates P.C. offers a free initial consultation at our Staten Island office. If you are facing any level of forgery charge, please contact our criminal defense attorneys to discuss your case and see how we can help. To schedule a consultation, please call us at 866-308-3353 or contact us online.
