Forgery

Forgery is referred to as “uttering and publishing,” and forgery offenses are felonies under Michigan law. A felony conviction for forgery can have negative and lasting consequences on your life, including jail time, fines, risk of job loss, and more. Forgery is a type of theft, meaning you may also be subjected to repaying the victim of the crime. With so much at stake, it is critical you hire an attorney like me who has experience defending forgery charges with great success. The sooner you contact me, the sooner we can start building your winning defense strategy and achieve the best possible outcome.

Offenses and Penalties

Forgery is a broad term for offenses related to the fraudulent means of obtaining money or property from others. It is important to understand what types of offenses are considered forgery, and how to defend against these charges. If you are accused or charged with any of the following offenses, contact me today.

Check Forgery: Using forged checks with intent to defraud. You can still be charged even if you do not have to use the forged checks. Ex. stealing someone’s check and issuing payment to yourself.

  • Penalty: Felony and up to 7 years in prison.

MCL 750.251

Credit Card Fraud: “Uttering and publishing” false, forged, altered, or counterfeit financial transaction device or records. Includes passing a forged record or deed. Ex. Using a counterfeit credit under an alter ego or fake name.

  • Penalty: Up to 14 years in prison.

MCL 750.248a

Possession of Counterfeit Checks: Possessing 10 or more forged or counterfeit checks with intent to use them.

  • Penalty: Felony and up to 7 years in prison.

MCL 750.252

Passing (“Uttering”) Counterfeit Money: Attempting to pass counterfeit or fake money.

  • Penalty: Felony and up to 5 years in prison and a fine of up to $2,500.

MCL 750.253

Obtaining a Signature by Fraud: You may also be charged if you have knowledge a contract includes a fraudulent signature and you try to enforce it.

  • Penalty: Felony, up to 10 years in prison and up to $5,000 in fines.

MCL 750.273- 750.274

Fraudulent Disposition of Personal Property: Using for your own benefit money or property that was given to you with instructions on how to dispose of or use the property or money.

  • Penalty: Felony, no recommended sentence in the statute for this offense.
    • Since it is a felony, it results in over one year in prison. The length of the sentence will depend on your criminal history and circumstances of the crime. ZAYID LAW has experience advocating on behalf of client’s charged with this crime to get the shortest possible sentence.

MCL 750.279

Zayid Law's Defense to Forgery

The devil is in the details for forgery crimes, and these charges require the intense attention to detail from an experience attorney. It is critically important to scrutinize every element of the prosecution’s case to call into question and create a reasonable doubt about the forgery case brought against you. When you hire me, Justin Zayid, I will arm you with the knowledge necessary to fight the charges and build the best possible defense strategy for your case.

As with most fraud offenses, forgery offenses primarily rely upon the intent to defraud, and it is the “pressure point” we will attack to fight the charges brought against you. The prosecution faces an uphill battle in establishing, beyond a reasonable doubt, the intent to defraud, whether it be forging a check or using a fraudulent signature. These situations often include misunderstandings or miscommunications that negate any guilt or intent to defraud. You need an experienced attorney who knows what to look for and how to use these defenses to put you in the best possible position to succeed in your case.

When you are properly represented and properly informed, you will be in the best possible position to understand your options, the defenses at your disposal, and the realistic outcome of your case. The sooner you contact me, the sooner I can step in to fight for you, every step of the way. I will not stop fighting until you are satisfied with the outcome of your case. If you are accused or charged with a forgery crime, call me today for a free initial consultation.