While forgery is often thought of as a person attempting to pass off a signature as somebody else’s, state law in Texas is a bit broader when it comes to these types of white-collar offenses. With numerous technological advances, it is much easier for people to create all types of fake documents that appear to be real.

In certain cases, forgery is a felony offense punishable by several years in prison and significant fines. Some forgeries are so good that alleged offenders in these cases may be excused for simply possessing forged items they genuinely believed to be authentic.

Forgery Defense Lawyer in Irving, Dallas, Carrolton, Richardson, TX

If you were arrested or believe that you might be under investigation for an alleged forgery offense in North Texas, it is in your best interest to not say anything to authorities without legal representation. Dallas criminal defense attorney Richard McConathy can fight to possibly get these types of criminal charges reduced or dismissed.

Contact the Law Offices of Richard C. McConathy today at (972) 233-5700 for a consultation about your alleged offense in Irving, Dallas, Carrolton, Richardson, and surrounding areas of Dallas County, Texas. Our firm will work to potentially get your criminal charges reduced or dismissed.

Forgery Charges in Dallas County

Under Texas Penal Code § 32.21, an alleged offender commits forgery if he or she forges a writing with intent to defraud or harm another. The term “forge” is defined as meaning either:

  • to alter, make, complete, execute, or authenticate any writing so that it purports to be the act of another who did not authorize that act; to have been executed at a time or place or in a numbered sequence other than was in fact the case, or to be a copy of an original when no such original existed;
  • to issue, transfer, register the transfer of, pass, publish, or otherwise utter a writing that is forged within the meaning of Paragraph (A); or
  • to possess a writing that is forged within the meaning of Paragraph (A) with intent to utter it in a manner specified in Paragraph (B).

Additionally, the term “writing” in this statute includes:

  • printing or any other method of recording information;
  • money, coins, tokens, stamps, seals, credit cards, badges, and trademarks; and
  • symbols of value, right, privilege, or identification.

An alleged offender is presumed to intend to defraud or harm another if he or she acts with respect to two or more writings of the same type and if each writing is a government record listed in Texas Penal Code § 37.01(2)(C). The definition of a governmental record under that section of the Penal Code includes a license, certificate, permit, seal, title, letter of patent, or similar document issued by the government, by another state, or by the United States.

Forgery

Forgery Penalties in Texas

Forgery in Texas is classified as a third-degree felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $10,000 if the writing is or purports to be:

  • part of an issue of money, securities, postage, or revenue stamps;
  • a government record listed in Texas Penal Code § 37.01(2)(C); or
  • other instruments issued by a state or national government or by a subdivision of either, or part of an issue of stock, bonds, or other instruments representing interests in or claims against another person.

Third-degree felony forgery crimes can become second-degree felony offenses punishable by up to 20 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $10,000 if the alleged offense was committed against an elderly individual, defined under state law as any person 65 years of age or older.

Forgery is a state jail felony punishable by up to two years in state jail and/or a fine of up to $10,000 if the writing is or purports to be a will, codicil, deed, deed of trust, mortgage, security instrument, security agreement, credit card, check, authorization to debit an account at a financial institution, or similar sight order for payment of money, contract, release, or another commercial instrument.

In all other cases, forgery is a Class A misdemeanor offense punishable by up to one year in jail and/or a fine of up to $4,000.

Dallas County Forgery Resources

Forgery FAQ | Dallas Police Department — The Dallas Police Department’s Financial Investigations Unit investigates alleged forgery crimes as well as a number of other offenses. On this section of the website, you can find answers to many frequently asked questions about forgery. Learn more about what people can do if they are victims of forgery and steps to take to reduce the likelihood of becoming a victim of forgery.

Dallas Police Department
Financial Investigations Unit
1400 S. Lamar Street
Dallas, Texas 75215
(214) 671-3543

Counterfeit suspects face grand jury — On February 10, 2012, the North Texas Daily reported that a Denton County grand jury would be reviewing the forgery case involving two freshman students at the University of North Texas. The Denton Police Department told the Daily that the arrests came after a convenience store employee reported a suspect attempting to use a fake $20 bill, which led to police searching one of the student’s dorm rooms and discovering more forged bills. The students had been making the fake notes in the residence hall and were facing third-degree felony state forgery charges, but a public information officer for the Denton Police Department told the Daily in November 2011 that the United States Secret Service could also press charges for forgery of government currency.

Find A Dallas County Defense Attorney for Forgery Charges | Law Offices of Richard C. McConathy

Do you think that you could be under investigation or were you already arrested in North Texas for an alleged forgery offense?

Contact the Law Offices of Richard C. McConathy today at (972) 233-5700 for a consultation about your alleged offense in Irving, Dallas, Carrolton, Richardson, and surrounding areas of Dallas County, Texas. Our firm will work to potentially get your criminal charges reduced or dismissed.

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