Cleveland Forgery Lawyer

Cleveland Forgery Attorney

Forgery is a serious crime in Ohio, and convictions can mean long-lasting consequences that include fines, restitution, a criminal record, and even incarceration. If you’re facing forgery charges, a skilled Cleveland forgery lawyer from Fortress Law Group, LLC can represent your case and safeguard your rights throughout the legal process to ensure the most favorable outcome possible.

Forgery in Ohio

In Ohio, forgery is a criminal act that includes creating or altering a legal document with the intent to defraud someone. Forgery usually includes documents, while counterfeit usually includes money.

Documents, whether paper or electronic, might be forged for financial gain, identity theft, or to avoid some kind of legal issues. Forging includes making a forged document, altering a real document, or using a forged document. It can also include impersonating someone else by signing their name or using their credentials to access confidential information without their authorization.

Just because a document has false information doesn’t mean its necessarily forgery. There needs to be legal significance to the document. Under Ohio law, a person can be charged with forgery if they do any of the following without authorization and with the intent of defrauding someone:

• Forging someone else’s writing
• Forging something to seem like a document was signed at a different time or place than it really was
• Forging any writing and presenting it as genuine
• Forging different terms than an original document
• Forging a fake ID
• Using, selling, or distributing a forged document

Documents That Can Be Forged

The most common documents that lead to forgery charges are checks and fake IDs. However, there are many other kinds of documents that can be forged if altered or faked.

• Contracts – mortgages, loans, credit card contracts
• Identification – birth certificates, passports, driver’s licenses
• Official records – immunization records, marriage certificates, property titles, wills
• Job-related items – purchase orders, timesheets, or vendor invoices

Losses Due to Forgery

Individuals or businesses who are victims of forgery may suffer financial losses, have to deal with legal consequences like claims or regulatory issues like fines, and have damage done to their reputation and credit. Individuals often experience emotional stress from these consequences and have to resolve them in their lives. For businesses, it may lead to disruption to their operation and even negatively affect their employees.

Penalties for Forgery in Ohio

Forgery may be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony in Ohio and can have a range of penalties, depending on what document is forged, what the forger receives through their action, and what losses the victim(s) suffer. Some examples of sentences for forgery convictions are:

• Forging fake IDs to use, sell, or distribute is a first-degree misdemeanor that can include a fine of up to $1,000 and up to 180 days in jail.
• Forging a document such as a property title can be a fifth-degree felony and can include a fine of up to $10,000 and up to five years in prison.
• If a case includes an elderly or disabled victim, the charge can be a second-degree felony, with a fine of up to $20,000 and up to eight years in prison.

In some cases, forgery can even be prosecuted at the federal level. This might include identity theft, forging federal documents, or a forged document being mailed across state lines.

You Don’t Have to Face Charges Alone

If you’ve been charged with forgery, consult with a knowledgeable Cleveland forgery lawyer right away. A Cleveland criminal defense attorney can review the facts of your case and explain how the laws apply to your situation. A skilled lawyer may be able to get the prosecution to agree to lesser charges or even get charges dismissed, and if your case goes to trial, qualified legal representation can be critical to fight against the criminal charges.

FAQs

Q: Is Forgery a White-Collar Crime?

A: Forgery is often considered a white-collar crime because it is generally not violent and is usually committed for financial gain. However, white-collar crimes can lead to serious consequences for the victims, and the State of Ohio takes forgery charges very seriously and often imposes harsh penalties on people convicted of forgery, including fines and incarceration.

Q: What Is the Statute of Limitations on Forgery in Ohio?

A: In Ohio, a misdemeanor forgery offense has a statute of limitations of two years, and a felony forgery offense has a statute of limitations of four years. This means prosecutors have up to four years to charge an offender with forgery if the act is a felony offense and up to two years if it is a misdemeanor.

Q: What Is Theft by Deception in Ohio?

A: Theft by deception is a different kind of fraud charge, often called conning or scamming, that refers to knowingly deceiving someone to obtain money or other benefits by false or misleading representations, by withholding information, preventing someone from acquiring information, or any other act that creates a false impression. This is not the same as forgery but may be charged in conjunction with forgery in some cases.

Q: What Are the Other Consequences of Forgery?

A: In addition to jail time and fines, a forgery conviction goes on the offender’s criminal record, which can prevent them from being able to get employment, housing, professional licenses, and loans. The offender may also be required to pay restitution, be on probation, do community service, or face other penalties.

Help From Fortress Law Group, LLC

With the serious consequences of a conviction, being accused of forgery can be stressful. The law is often nuanced, and knowing how it applies to your circumstances can feel impossible. The state will have an experienced legal team on its side, so it’s essential for you to have skilled, knowledgeable legal representation fighting for you.

Fortress Law Group, LLC has been aggressively defending clients in Northern Ohio for more than 15 years. We have the experience and resources to stand up for you and your interests, whether that means negotiating outside of court or representing you at trial. To set up an initial consultation, contact our office today.