It’s really no wonder police departments across the country are using social media to catch people accused of crimes. They must understand the addiction to social media. When a Crimestoppers Facebook page published a ‘Most Wanted’ post with a wanted man’s identifying information and mug shot, they were probably hoping someone would come forward with information about the man’s location. Instead, the man gave himself away by liking the post. He was arrested shortly after for Forgery after cashing four fraudulent checks.
Forgery in Greeley and Windsor Colorado
C.R.S. 18-5-102 – Forgery – is defined by Colorado law as:
(a) Part of an issue of money, stamps, securities, or other valuable instruments issued by a government or government agency; or
(b) Part of an issue of stock, bonds, or other instruments representing interests in or claims against a corporate or other organization or its property; or
(c) A deed, will, codicil, contract, assignment, commercial instrument, promissory note, check, or other instrument which does or may evidence, create, transfer, terminate, or otherwise affect a legal right, interest, obligation, or status; or
(d) A public record or an instrument filed or required by law to be filed or legally fileable in or with a public office or public servant; or
(e) A written instrument officially issued or created by a public office, public servant, or government agency; or
(f) Part of an issue of tokens, transfers, certificates, or other articles manufactured and designed for use in transportation fees upon public conveyances, or as symbols of value usable in place of money for the purchase of property or services available to the public for compensation; or
(g) Part of an issue of lottery tickets or shares designed for use in the lottery held pursuant to part 2 of article 35 of title 24, C.R.S.; or
(h) A document-making implement that may be used or is used in the production of a false identification document or in the production of another document-making implement to produce false identification documents.
In the story above, the man completed checks with the intent of defrauding the person whose account the money is coming from. In other words, he took personal checks from another person, wrote them out to cash, and forged the account owner’s signature. It seems to be a pretty clear case of check fraud.
As a class 5 felony in Greeley, Evans, and Erie, Forgery is punishable with 1 to 3 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections and up to $100,000 in fines.
If you or someone you love has been arrested for Forgery in Weld, Morgan, or Logan County, be smart, exercise your right to remain silent, and contact the experienced criminal defense attorneys from the O’Malley Law Office at (970) 616-6009 today. Together, we can protect your future.
Image Credit: Pixabay – geralt