Los Angeles Forgery Defense Attorney

Forgery is a form of fraud and it’s often considered a white collar crime. It happens when someone knowingly, intentionally alters or counterfeits an object, statistic, or document. In criminal cases, forgery usually involves faking a signature or dishonestly altering some other part of a document for financial gain. If you are charged with forgery in southern California, now or in the future, it is imperative that you retain the services of an aggressive, experienced Los Angeles criminal defense attorney at once. At the Miranda Rights Law Firm in Los Angeles, we have more than a decade of experience defending those charged with forgery, fraud, and embezzlement. While no guarantee can be made in any specific case, Los Angeles forgery defense attorney Douglas Miranda knows how to defend you against these serious charges. He has a reputation for legal excellence combined with the skills, resources, legal advice and experience that you need to maximize your chances of a good case resolution.

FORGERY IN CALIFORNIA

Penal Code Section 470 defines California’s forgery laws quite clearly. According to California’s forgery and counterfeiting laws, the individual must have acted with intent to defraud the victim for personal or financial gain. Forgery includes a number of activities related to the signing, altering, making, or using of a written document, which must be handwritten, printed, typed, or otherwise recorded.

Depending on the facts of the case, forgery can be charged as a misdemeanor or as a felony. If you’re accused of check forgery, the amount of the check determines the severity of the charge. The “bad checks” law makes it illegal to write a check that you know will not clear once cashed because of insufficient funds or other reasons. You must be aware that you are writing a bad check and have the intent to defraud the victim to be charged with this crime. If you are issuing bad checks for a sum of under $450,  you will be charged with a misdemeanor. A  conviction for this charge can carry a penalty of up to one year in a California jail.

However, even if you’re charged with misdemeanor forgery, a conviction can lead to a year in jail, while a conviction for felony forgery can result in 16 months to three years in jail. Additionally, a forgery conviction can include a fine of up to $10,000, and you’ll be ordered to make restitution to victims, so it’s vital that you’re represented by an experienced Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer who can work hard to represent you and protect your interests.

Check fraud is another common type of forgery in the state of California. This crime occurs when the accused makes, passes or possesses a fake or altered check with the knowledge that the check is fake or altered with the intent to defraud someone else by pretending the check is genuine.

Credit card fraud can also be charged as a form of forgery in California. This occurs when someone designs or creates a counterfeit credit card with the intent to defraud someone, alters an existing credit card, or forges the signature of someone else on the payment receipt with the intent to defraud. Altering an existing credit card can include changing the cardholder’s name on the card or altering the magnetic strip on the back to charge another person’s account instead of your own.

When Los Angeles criminal defense attorney Douglas Miranda handles your forgery case, he will fight tirelessly on your behalf to bring your case to the best possible conclusion. If you or a loved one has been charged with forgery, contact Los Angeles forgery lawyer Douglas Miranda as soon as possible.

WE FIGHT TIRELESSLY ON YOUR BEHALF

To be successfully charged with forgery the prosecution has to establish three essentials. A written document must be identified proving that the defendant made the written document, materially altered an existing written instrument, or falsely signed a written instrument, and prove the defendant acted with intent to defraud.

A forgery charge does not always lead to a conviction, especially when you have the help of a knowledgeable Los Angeles forgery attorney. There are a number of defenses that could be available to you depending on the circumstances of your case.

It’s crucial that the prosecution prove that you intended to defraud the victim when you forged a document. Without this intent, you cannot be charged with forgery. Perhaps you were under the impression that you had the authority to alter the document or you misunderstood instructions on what you were supposed to do to the document. This shows a clear lack of intent that should not be punished with forgery charges.

The document also has to have some sort of significance. If you write a note to your friend pretending to be someone else as a practical joke, this is not forgery because the document does not hold any legal significance. The document must have the ability to affect the victim’s money or property.

You may also be the victim of false accusations. Sometimes, business deals go bad and partners begin to point the finger at each other to avoid taking the fall for making a bad decision. It may be necessary to call a handwriting expert in during your trial to analyze whether it was really your writing on the document in question. The expert will be asked to examine writing samples that you have provided and then provide testimony on whether it was possible that you were the one who made alterations or signed off on the forged document. Although this is not sufficient enough to prove innocence, it is a commonly used and effective tactic in forgery cases.

If you or a loved one has been charged with forgery, contact Los Angeles forgery defense attorney Douglas Miranda, as soon as possible for legal representation and legal advice.

DON’T WAIT TO SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION

If you’ve been charged with forgery in southern California, put an experienced Los Angeles forgery defense attorney to work for you. After examining your forgery case, Douglas Miranda will explain your legal options and work to develop the most effective possible defense. At the Miranda Rights Law Firm, we take our responsibility to our clients seriously, and we put our experience to work for you. To schedule a free consultation with an experienced Los Angeles forgery defense attorney, contact us today. Send an email, or call 213-293-1207. Se habla español.