Forgery Defense Attorney Utah
Forgery is a type of fraud, which means that the level of punishment depends on what was stolen and how much it cost. It also means that, unlike more serious crimes, there is no minimum jail sentence and even the maximum is rather low.
However, forgery charges are only the tip of the iceberg. Like fraud, being charged for forgery also allows the accused to be charged with a variety of other crimes, all of which quickly add up in terms of both potential jail time and fines. If you’ve been accused of forgery, you need the help of our experienced, caring attorneys. We not only are experts at quickly resolving cases, but we also pride ourselves on our ability to protect your quality of life.
Don’t hesitate. Contact Wasatch Defense Lawyers now for a free consultation 801.980.9965.
What is Forgery?
When it comes to forgery, most people think of things like trying to use fake checks (ever seen Catch Me if You Can?), but just because you tried to cash a fake check doesn’t mean that you are automatically guilty of forgery or even fraud. All forgery charges have to be based on proof—namely, did you do it on purpose?
That gets us to the technical part: Forgery is the act of fabricating or falsifying documents in order to defraud someone. “Fabricating” covers any documents you make yourself, “falsifying” covers anything you do to a document you did not create.
Investor Fraud Defense
Investor fraud can entail anything from ponzi scheme-style real estate investor fraud to fake websites that solicit for investments to stock offerings sold without proper registration of securities.
Investor fraud is particularly concerning to the state of Utah, given how investing is becoming increasingly difficult to understand. With so many companies in the world available for consideration, it can be painfully difficult to sift through enough data to notice discrepancies, especially minor ones—and many companies only need to offset each trade by a cent or two to make a comfortable profit. As a result, investor fraud is typically handled at the federal level, but can still be prosecuted by the state instead.
Forgery Punishment
The maximum penalty for a forgery conviction is 5 years and a $5,000 fine plus a surcharge. With forgery, a prison sentence is not mandatory, so a judge may suspend a prison term and place the defendant on probation.
That isn’t what makes a forgery conviction severe, though. The catch with forgery is that a prosecutor can typically add extra charges to it, such as attempted theft or theft by deception, and that he can do that for each person or business that was involved in the forgery charge. Each of those extra charges will then also become part of your trial. That of course can greatly increase the amount of punishment that you face as well as complicating any attempt to expunge your criminal record.
Utah Forgery Defense Attorney
If you’ve been charged with forgery, you’re standing at the top of a very slippery slope. All it takes is one mistake and you could be facing thousands of dollars in fines and years in jail. That’s why Wasatch Defense Attorneys are here for you. Our highly qualified sentencing experts know the system, so they can aggressively attack the case against you. We can reduce the charges against you and even help you avoid jail time!
Don’t let your life be dictated by a felony record. Contact us today for a no obligation case review 801.980.9965 today for a no-obligation consultation.
Guard Your Rights
Do NOT Waive Your Right to Legal Counsel! Authorities will try get you to incriminate yourself and suggest there is no need for an attorney. Stay calm and call us immediately: 801.980.9965
Experience You Can Trust
We have represented thousands of clients, with countless difficulties and challenges, for more than 100 years. Less than 1% of our clients have ever been incarcerated.
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Whether you have a family, financial, or criminal matter – our ethical, caring attorneys listen to YOU and use their expertise and a strong, hands-on approach to get you the best result.