Chicago Man Charged with Forgery

 Posted on March 12, 2012 in White collar crime

Forgery is just one of illegal actions known as white-collar crimes. In general, white collar crimes are based upon deceit (versus force or violence) and are usually conducted by professionals, businesspeople, government officials, and others not typically thought of as criminals.

Illinois law provides a detailed definition of forgery, but ultimately, the term describes an instance where someone unlawfully uses another person’s signature, or marks or alters a document (or knowingly delivers or possesses the document) with the intent to defraud. A forgery conviction in Illinois requires proof not only that the document was marked, altered, or signed by the individual in question, but that that person acted knowingly and with intent to defraud. Note that an individual can still be charged with forgery in Illinois if they intended to conduct a fraudulent act, regardless of whether or not the fraudulent act was successfully completed.

One Chicago man was recently charged with forgery after police say he wrote several forged checks in both Iowa and Illinois, apparently drawn from his dead uncle’s bank account. According to thehawkeye.com, District Court Judge Michael Schilling suspended a five-year prison sentence and instead placed the 22-year-old on probation. He was also ordered to pay a fine of more than $1,000.

Although they may not get the same level of publicity as violent crimes, forgery and other white collar crimes are taken very seriously in Illinois. Forgery is a Class 3 Felony in Illinois, and those convicted of forgery could face up to 7 years in prison. If you’re currently subject to a forgery investigation in Illinois, or if you’ve already been charged with a white collar crime, contact a top Chicago white collar crime defense attorney right away. Cook County white collar crime lawyer Christopher M. Cosley offers a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your situation.