Connecticut Forgery Defense Attorneys
Forgery allegations can arise from many different scenarios and each forgery case is unique. Just because you’ve been charged with forgery does not mean that you’ll automatically be convicted and sentenced to serious penalties. In many cases, a highly experienced criminal defense lawyer can help to limit the consequences you face or have your case dismissed.
Like any criminal charge, forgery is a serious matter and prosecutors will often seek the harshest penalties. With the right defense representation, however, you can obtain the most favorable result possible in your forgery case. The defense lawyers at Koffsky & Felsen, LLC have extensive experience in Connecticut state criminal court and they know how prosecutors work and how to best challenge their cases. Call today if you’re facing forgery charges.
Types of Forgery Charges
Forgery involves the creation or alteration of a false document, object, or symbol for wrongful gain or profit. This can encompass many different acts, including:
- Writing yourself a fake prescription for drugs
- Making or possessing a fake ID
- Signing someone else’s name on a check or legal document
- Creating a fake credit or debit card
These are only a few of the many types of forgery allegations that happen on a regular basis in Connecticut.
Forgery can be charged in different ways by prosecutors, depending on the circumstances of the alleged crime. The following are the charges an accused forger may face:
Forgery in the third degree – This charge can apply to anyone who possesses, alters, or creates a false document that is intended to deceive or defraud another person or business. This can be any type of document and does not have to be an official document – as long as a prosecutor believes it was used fraudulently to for wrongful gain, you can face this charge. This is a Class B misdemeanor.
Forgery of symbols – If a forged item represents a symbol of money in a financial transaction, you can be charged with forgery of symbols under Connecticut law. This most commonly applies to creating fake debit or credit cards and is a Class A misdemeanor.
Forgery in the second degree – A forgery charge can be escalated to second-degree if the forged document in question is alleged to be a drug prescription, last will and testament, property deed, vehicle title, contract, legal document, public record or application that was filed with a government office, or a document issued by the government (such as a driver’s license or ID). This is a Class D felony.
Forgery in the first degree – The most serious forgery charge applies to allegations of forging stocks, bonds, stamps, money, or other types of currency. This is a Class C felony.
Each forgery case will need to be individually assessed depending on the specific charge issued. Sometimes, prosecutors may try to get a more serious conviction than is applicable to a particular situation and an experienced forgery defense attorney can fight to have such charged reduced or dismissed.
Possible Consequences of Forgery Convictions
Any criminal charge can have numerous consequences and forgery charges are no different. Because of the fraudulent nature of forgery, a conviction can have wide-reaching and often unexpected consequences.
First, if you plead guilty or are convicted of forgery, you can face the following maximum sentences by the court:
Forgery in the third degree – $1,000 fine and six months in jail
Forgery of symbols – $2,000 fine, probation, and/or one year in jail
Forgery in the second degree – $5,000 fine, probation, and/or five years in prison
Forgery in the first degree – $10,000 fine, probation, and/or 10 years in prison
Just because the law allows for a maximum sentence does not mean that you will serve such a sentence. If the evidence indicates a trial is not in your best interest, then themain objective of our defense lawyers is to obtain the least serious sentence possible for you. We can achieve this through proficient plea bargaining, challenging the severity of your charges, and presenting mitigating circumstances to the judge.
In addition, fraud crimes such as forgery can affect many aspects of your life, as they are considered to be “crimes of moral turpitude.” These convictions can have effects on the following:
- Immigration status
- Professional licenses
- Educational admissions
- Employment opportunities
If you have been convicted of certain forgery crimes, you may not be eligible to work in any financial position or another position of trust. Many people feel the effects of a forgery convictions for years to come, so it’s imperative that you have the right defense team that can help you avoid conviction whenever possible.
Defending against Forgery Charges
Like many crimes, Connecticut law requires that you intend to forge something and defraud someone in order to be convicted of forgery. For this reason, an important defense is that you did not have the required intent to commit the crime. For example, if you believed you had permission to sign someone’s name for them on a document as their agent, you did not have the intent to commit forgery. Having actual permission is also a strong defense that can lead to your charges being dismissed. Our attorneys can identify when your rights have been violated to have key evidence thrown out of yourcase, as well as identify any other possible way to challenge the evidence against you.
Call Koffsky & Felsen, LLC Today to Speak with a Connecticut Forgery Defense Attorney
Allegations of forgery are a serious matter that can result in severe legal consequences, including substantial fines and jail time. In addition, as it is considered a crime of moral turpitude, forgery can result in significant collateral consequences, including deportation, difficulty obtaining professional licenses, and an inability to obtain certain types of employment. For these reasons, it is extremely important that anyone facing forgery charges in Connecticut retain legal counsel as soon as possible – whether they are accused of forging a check at the grocery or forging a signature on a substantial contract.
To schedule a consultation with a Connecticut criminal defense attorney, call Koffsky & Felsen, LLC today 203-327-1500 or send us an email through our online contact form.
