Forgery Attorney in Middlesex County
Forgery charges have become increasingly more common throughout New Jersey, which in turn prosecutes these crimes aggressively. If you or a loved one has been charged with forgery, it is important to understand that if convicted, you face a state prison sentence, probation, community service, a criminal record, and thousands in fines and restitution. Forgery convictions are often accompanied by related charges such as Prescription Fraud, Credit Card Fraud, Theft by Deception and Check Fraud. At the Law Offices of William Proetta Criminal Law, our lawyers dedicate a large portion of our practice exclusively to the representation of clients for criminal and municipal charges such forgery and related crimes. We defend clients charged with forgery throughout Middlesex County and New Jersey, including New Brunswick, Woodbridge, Cranbury, Highland Park, Edison, and South Amboy. Our case management solutions process begins by analyzing the weaknesses in the State’s case against you. We always try to work with the prosecution in order to obtain a successful resolution that can include a dismissal of the charges. If that avenue proves unsuccessful, we will litigate aggressively on your behalf.
If you or a loved one has been charged with forgery in Middlesex County or elsewhere in New Jersey, contact our Middlesex County office at (732) 659-9600 to build a customized case strategy to meet your needs. We provide a free consultation to answer your questions and concerns and hope to work with you in overcoming your forgery charges.
Forgery in New Jersey: N.J.S.A. 2C:21-1
The New Jersey statute for the crime of forgery is provided below, in pertinent part, for your reading convenience.
§ 2C:21-1. Forgery
a. Forgery defined. A person is guilty of forgery if, 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: (1) Alters or changes any writing of another without his authorization; (2) 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 (3) Utters any writing which he knows to be forged in a manner specified in paragraph (1) or (2).
b. Grading of forgery. Forgery is a crime of the third degree if the writing is or purports to be part of an issue of money, securities, postage or revenue stamps, or other instruments, certificates or licenses issued by the government, New Jersey Prescription Blanks as referred to in R.S.45:14-14, or part of an issue of stock, bonds or other instruments representing interest in or claims against any property or enterprise, personal identifying information or an access device. Forgery is a crime of the third degree if the writing is or purports to be a check. Forgery is a crime of the third degree if the writing is or purports to be 15 or more forged or altered retail sales receipts or universal product code labels. Otherwise forgery is a crime of the fourth degree.
c. Possession of forgery devices. A person is guilty of possession of forgery devices, a crime of the third degree, when with purpose to use, or to aid or permit another to use the same for purposes of forging written instruments, including access devices and personal identifying information, he makes or possesses any device, apparatus, equipment, computer, computer equipment, computer software or article specially designed or adapted to such use.
Degrees and Penalties for NJ Forgery Charges
Forgery is normally a fourth degree crime but depending on certain factors, may be upgraded to a third degree as illustrated below
| Third Degree Forgery, ONLY IF | Forged money, stamps, stocks or prescription blanks |
| Forged check | |
| Forged 15 or more retail sales receipts | |
| Possession of forgery devices |
Whether you are facing a third or fourth degree forgery charge, your case will be handled in Middlesex County Superior Court in New Brunswick because it is classified as a felony. Indictable cases can be complicated and will take the experience of a season criminal defense lawyer to be handled effectively.
Discuss Your Case with an Middlesex County Forgery Lawyer
Our founding attorney, William Proetta has handled thousands of criminal and municipal charges such as forgery during his career. We represent clients charged with forgery in Middlesex County and across New Jersey, in courts such as Sayreville, Old Bridge, Spotswood, New Brunswick, and Edison. A defendant who has been charged with forgery, and who has little or no criminal record, is a potential candidate for a diversionary program such as Pre-Trial Intervention (“PTI”). Once we are able to evaluate your case, we can we choose to work with the County Prosecutor’s Office in an effort to seek and secure your admittance into PTI so the charges are ultimately dismissed upon completion. If you or a loved one has been charged with a crime of forgery or other related theft or fraud charges, contact our office to speak with an experienced forgery defense attorney and build a customized case strategy to meet your needs at (732) 659-9600.