Forgery and Financial Identity Crimes

Forgery charges cover more than just signing a check or document.

You can be charged with forgery for signing a check with someone else's name, for creating a false document, for simply presenting a forged check or document to a store clerk, or for helping someone else do any of the above.

Often, law enforcement will charge individuals with a combination of:

• Forgery;
• Financial transaction card fraud;
• Financial identity theft;
• Conspiracy; or
• Other related crimes, depending on the circumstances.

Forgery cases often involve multiple transactions, and law enforcement will issue a separate warrant for each check, or each incident, involved.

Forgery charges in SC cover a broad range of conduct that applies to “instruments of writing,” including:

• Falsely making;
• Forging;
• Counterfeiting;
• Causing, procuring, or helping someone else to falsely make, forge, or counterfeit;
• Publishing as true a false, forged, or counterfeit instrument of writing; or
• Forging, making changes to, or erasing any record or plat of land.

This could apply to checks, money orders, affidavits, or even a letter with a forged signature on it. It applies if you present a check or forged document to someone, even if you did not commit the forgery yourself.

Forgery is a graduated offense in SC – the penalties increase based on the dollar value of the forgery:

• If there is no dollar amount, the case will be heard in the magistrate’s court and the potential penalty is up to three years in prison;
• If the dollar value is less than 10 thousand dollars, the potential penalty is up to five years in prison; and
• If the dollar value is greater than 10 thousand dollars, the potential penalty is up to ten years in prison.

Forgery and other financial crimes cases may involve substantial restitution in some cases. If the alleged victims lost money, the court will order you to pay restitution if you are convicted.

Lacey Thompson accepts only criminal cases, including forgery, financial identity theft, financial transaction card fraud, and other financial crimes.

If you are facing forgery or charges for other financial crimes, call the Thompson & Hiller Defense Firm now at (843) 444-6122 or contact us online before you speak to investigators, to find out what your options are and how we can help.