Forgery Charges in Memphis, TN

Memphis White Collar Crime Attorney

The white collar crime of forgery is basically the act of creating or changing some form or writing so that it is false and fraudulent. In the state of Tennessee, it is against the law to forge a writing with the purpose of committing fraud against someone else, according to Tenn. Code Ann §39-14-114.

The state defines the act of forging as creating, completing, executing, altering or authenticating something in writing so that it appears to:

• Be created or executed by someone else who did not actually provide authorization for such an action;
• Have been carried out at a false time or place, or in a false sequence; or
• Be a copy of an original that has never actually existed.

It is also an act of forgery in the state of Tennessee to do any of the following: issue, publish, pass, transfer or otherwise utter a forged writing (as defined above); possess a forged writing with the intent of passing it off as a copy of the original; create false entries in records or books. Under state law, "writing" can include printed documentation, or it can include other types of recordings, such as seals, credit cards, trademarks, money, etc.

If you are accused of committing forgery, you will need to begin working on your defense immediately. Are you facing your forgery charges in the Memphis, Tennessee area? If so, you can turn to our Memphis criminal defense lawyers at The Claiborne Ferguson Law Firm, P.A. for strong legal representation. We are ready to help you fight for a positive outcome for your criminal case!

Tennessee Penalties for Forgery

Forgery offenses are punished in the same way as theft offenses—the penalties depend on the value of the property that was compromised in the offense. For example, if the forged writing leads to a loss amounting to at least $10,000 but less than $60,000, the crime is a Class C felony.

If, however, the loss is at least $60,000 but less than $250,000, the crime is a Class B felony, which is a more serious offense. According to Tennessee law, forgery must be classified as at least a Class E felony, which carries standards penalties of one to two years of imprisonment and fines of up to $3,000. It is important to notes that prison terms can be longer for those who have previous convictions on their records.

Our criminal defense law firm can help you establish a competitive defense strategy so you can do everything possible to avoid suffering from serious penalties. We may be able to help you prove that you had no connection to the forged documents, or that the false documents were simply based on innocent errors that did not include any criminal intent.

Contact our firm today so we can defend your rights!