Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument is a very serious offense in New York. That being said, the crime of Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument is a tool many New York prosecutors utilize to elevate charges that would normally seem to be minimal infractions as well. Items as innocent as a New York State Driver’s License with an altered date of birth, a temporary registration for a vehicle with a penciled in expiration date not on the original, or other manipulated documentation may result in a charge of Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument. The law makes no distinction if the forged item you have is a temporary registration kept solely for you to drive your vehicle to work or you are a criminal mastermind who has forged passports and legal documents looking to defraud a bank. Either way, Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument occurs where an individual merely possess a forged instrument, with the knowledge that it is fake, for the purposes of defrauding another. This crime is punishable as a misdemeanor by up to one year in jail and as a felony by up to 7 years state prison. If the item in question is money or stamps issued by the government, such as counterfeit currency, the felony is punishable by up to 15 years state prison.

There are many ways to successfully challenge and attack the charge of Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument. As one of the founding members of the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office’s Identity Theft Unit, the first unit of its kind, Jeremy Saland spent years prosecuting and investigating large scale fraud rings involved in this and other associated crimes. We know the nuances of the statute, the defenses to the charge and how to pursue getting you the best disposition possible. Unlike many other law firms who primarily practice civil law such as real estate or estate planning, we focus our practice on handling criminal matters. We practice criminal defense and will take the time to talk you through the process, chart out a plan of action, and make ourselves available to answer your questions and concerns.

Call us at (212) 312-7129 or contact us online today.