In New Jersey, Forgery (N.J.S.A. 2C:21-1) is defined as, with purpose to defraud or injure anyone, or with knowledge that he is facilitating a fraud or injury to be perpetrated by anyone, the actor:
- Alters or changes any writing of another without his authorization;
- Makes, completes, executes, authenticates, issues or transfers any writing so that it purports to be the act of another who did not authorize that act or of a fictitious person, or 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; or
- Utters any writing which he knows to be forged in a manner specified in paragraph 1 or 2.
The statute considers “writing” in a very broad sense.
Forgery can be the forging of money, but the concept of “writing” applies equally to forged credit cards, employment badges or access devices, trademark and copyright symbols, identification, UPC labels, stamps, and more.
The statute contains wide latitude when it comes to forgery.
Forgery may be prosecuted as a Third Degree Crime (up to five years in prison) when the forgery was monetary, a prescription blank, and in several other cases. In other cases, it will be charged as a Fourth Degree Crime with a maximum sentence of 18 months.
When you’re facing serious Forgery criminal charges, you need experienced criminal defense right away.
Call attorney Matthew Reisig today at 732-625-9661 for a free consultation regarding forgery.
