Possession of forged notes in Oklahoma is a serious crime. The crime is a felony in Tulsa and can lead to years behind bars.
FAQ: Possession Of Forged Evidence Of Debt
Oklahoma laws prohibit possession of:
- any counterfeited, forged, or altered evidence of debt
- issued anywhere or by any corporation or body duly authorized to do so,
- with full knowledge that the note, bill, or other evidence of debt is not legitimate,
- with the intent to utter it to be true or false or to cause it to be uttered.
A series of offenses can be aggregated into one if a defendant is found to have been involved in a scheme or plan to utter such evidence of debt and transfer or take property or money regularly.
A defendant could be charged with second-degree forgery if the value of the evidence of debt is $1,000 or more. If the value of what was forged is less than $1,000, a defendant could face charges of forgery in the third degree. Okla. Stat. tit. 21 § 1578
Elements Of The Crime
The state must prove the following five elements of the crime beyond a shadow of a doubt to get a conviction for possession of forged notes in Oklahoma.
- Willfully
- signing or getting someone else to sign
- by an officer or agent of an association or corporation
- of false evidence of debt of the corporation
- with the intent to issue, sell, or pledge
- or cause to be issued, sold, or pledged.
Penalties For Possession Of Forged Notes In Oklahoma
If the value of the instrument or note is less than $1,000, the crime is a misdemeanor in Tulsa. You could spend up to a year in jail, pay a fine of up to $1,000, or both.
If the value of the instrument or note is worth $1,000 or more, the crime is a felony. You could spend up to eight years in prison, pay a fine of up to $1,000, or both. The value of the forged instrument determines the severity of the punishment.
If you are facing charges of possession of forged notes or instruments, talk to a criminal defense lawyer in Tulsa, OK today.
Please do not take chances with your defense, as it could mean spending time in prison. Getting convicted of any criminal charge could drastically alter your life. It could cost you financially through fines paid and lost income.
Life after jail or prison, particularly if you were convicted of a felony, could be complicated. For example, there are some neighborhoods you may not be able to live in, your credit score could be affected, and you could lose some rights.
Initial Consultation: Tulsa Criminal Attorney
When you are facing charges of any kind, it is always better to do it with the help of an experienced criminal defense attorney. Options are available to you. Call for a low-cost initial strategy session with an experienced Tulsa criminal attorney to discuss your available legal options.
Call the Tulsa Criminal Defense Law Firm at 918-756-9600.
If you prefer, you can use the box in the upper right-hand corner of this page to send a question or brief message.
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