Dallas Forgery Defense Lawyer

Forgery can be generally defined as the making of a fake document, the changing of an existing document, or the making of a signature without authorization with the intent to defraud another. The simple “knowing” possession of a forged document can even be a crime. Virtually any document can be the object of a forgery. Forgery allegations commonly involve, but are not limited to: money, contracts, checks, identification documents, financial documents and other legal documents. Theft and/or fraud charges also occasionally accompany forgery charges because it is commonly alleged that the forgery was committed for monetary or material gain. Forgery charges can be prosecuted in either state or federal court depending on the circumstances and the penalties can potentially be quite severe. The maximum punishments for federal convictions include substantial fines and up to twenty years in prison while state court punishments can be as ten years in prison depending on the specific circumstances involved. However, as with most other crimes, if convicted, there is generally a possibility of probation which will undoubtedly include fines, restitution, community service, and other restrictions placed upon basic freedoms. Aside from the drastic legal punishments, there are also some very real negative collateral consequences of a forgery conviction such as, a ruined reputation and inability to obtain or maintain quality employment.

Luckily, there are successful defenses to forgery allegations. For example, often people accused of forgery are not aware that the document involved was actually forged. Because successful forgery prosecutions generally require proof that the person charged actually forged or altered the document involved or at least had knowledge of the fraudulent nature of the document, a compelling presentation of evidence concerning the lack of that knowledge can often successfully prevent or defeat forgery charges. However, it is important not to make any statements (oral or written) to law enforcement that could possibly be construed to impute knowledge of the forgery. Considering the “tricky” nature of forgery prosecutions and defenses and the negative legal and societal consequences of forgery allegations, everything possible must be correctly done to avoid conviction. That begins with choosing the right forgery defense attorney. The Dallas forgery defense lawyers at the Law Offices of Roderick C. White have successfully defended all types of forgery charges in both state and federal court and are ready to aggressively put that knowledge and experience to work for you. Contact us today to schedule a free initial consultation. We can help!!!