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Georgia Forgery Defense Attorney

According to Georgia law, forgery is the creation of a document that claims to be something it is not, for the purpose of defrauding the recipient of the document. You can also be charged with forgery if you did not create the fake document but you presented it under false pretenses. The falsehood in the forged document could take the form of an intentionally incorrect date or a falsified signature or authorization, among other intentionally misleading content. Fourth degree forgery, which is a misdemeanor, is forgery of a check for less than $1,500. Third degree forgery is a felony, and it involves forging a check for $1,500 or more; it is punishable by one to five years in prison. First and second-degree forgery involve the forgery of documents other than checks. Second degree forgery is punishable by up to five years in prison, but the maximum sentence for first-degree forgery is 15 years in prison. The Gwinnett County, Georgia white collar crimes defense lawyers at Zimmerman & Associates can help you if you are being charged with forgery.

Forgery of Currency

Forgery of currency is also known as making counterfeit bills. The use of counterfeit currency can violate both federal and state law. The production of counterfeit currency is a federal offense and carries a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment. A person suspected of passing counterfeit currency may be charged with one or more State crimes, including forgery, fraud, or other theft-related offenses. In recent years, the U.S. banknotes have become more difficult to forge, in order to prevent counterfeiting.

Identity Theft

Identity theft sometimes includes forgery of physical documents, but not always. You can be charged with identity theft if you use someone’s identifying information to open a bank account or authorize a financial transaction without their consent. If you use someone else’s identifying information to obtain a driver’s license with your picture but the victim’s name and birthdate, that is forgery. (Persuading the DMV to issue such a license would probably also require the forgery of some other documents, too.)

Forgery of Credentials and Identification Documents

Buying a fake diploma, professional license, or other credential document can also be charged as forgery.

Cybercrime

Many financial crimes take place on the Internet. Phishing and email scams are frequently used tactics to gain access to victims’ financial and identifying information in order to perpetrate forgery and identity theft.

Investment Fraud

Recipients of investment money have a legal duty to be transparent with investors about how they intend to use the money and about the risks associated with the investment. If you are not honest with investors, either because you omit important information or because you present false information to them, you can face criminal charges for investment fraud.

What to Do if You are Charged with a Financial Crime in Georiga

Even though financial crimes are, by nature, nonviolent, getting convicted of one can have serious consequences, such as spending years in prison. If you get charged with forgery or any other financial crime, you should exercise your right to representation by an attorney. Your lawyer can protect you from unknowingly incriminating yourself and can advise you on the best strategy in your case, whether that means fighting your charges, cooperating in an ongoing investigation, seeking a plea deal, or participating in a pretrial intervention program. The first step is to contact Zimmerman & Associates in Norcross, Georgia.