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Forgery Attorney In Phoenix, AZ

Arizona Criminal Defense Attorney

What is Forgery?

Forgery describes producing a copy or counterfeit of any document, banknote, a piece of art, or signature. The falsification of an item that infringes upon the legal rights of someone else is against the law in Arizona.

Arizona Revised Statutes 13-2002, Forgery, states  that a person commits forgery if he or she, with intent to defraud a person or business:

  • Falsely makes a written instrument.
  • Falsely completes or alters a written instrument.
  • Knowingly possesses an instrument someone has forged.
  • Offers or presents a forged instrument or an instrument containing false information (does not matter if the receiver accepts the item or not).

The state’s forgery law also says that investigators can reasonably infer that the individual has the intent to defraud if he or she possesses five or more forged instruments, even if the person never actually tries to use them. Forgery is a Class 4 felony in Arizona, punishable by a minimum sentence of one year in prison and a maximum of 3.75 years. If the accused uses the forged instrument to purchase, lease, or rent a dwelling then used it as a “drop house” to facilitate smuggling, it constitutes a Class 3 felony, punishable by two to 8.75 years in prison.

What is Possession of a “Forgery Device” ?

We have substantial experience in felony cases inclusive of the following and many others:

In Arizona, you can be charged even if you do not actually commit the act of forgery, simply by being in possession of forgery tools or devices. Having a forgery device in your control with knowledge of its character and the intent to commit fraud is criminal possession of a forgery device. This is a Class 6 felony in the state.

A “forgery device” can include any tool, plate, die, apparatus, software, article equipment, good, material, article, property, supply, or access device designed for use in forgery.

Possessing a forgery device with intent to use it or to help someone else use it for the purpose of forgery is a Class 5 felony. A Class 5 felony is punishable with a minimum sentence of two years, up to 2.5 years.

Criminal Defense Lawyer Serving Phoenix And Throughout Arizona

If you would like to meet with an experienced criminal defense lawyer, please call attorney Jack Litwak, at 602-492-8452 for a consultation. We provide criminal defense representation all over Arizona, including Maricopa County Superior Courts, Mohave County, Pinal County, Pima County, Kingman, Flagstaff, Prescott, Sedona, Prescott Valley, Glendale, Peoria, Tucson, Casa Grande, Florence, Globe, Show Low, Pinetop, Verde Valley, Yuma, Avondale, Litchfield, Tolleson, Phoenix, Paradise Valley, Scottsdale, Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Apache Junction, Payson, Wickenburg, Gila Bend, Winslow, Cave Creek, Queen Creek, and others.