Forgery is charged in Fort Collins and Larimer County when a person is accused of manipulating a document in order to defraud another. At the time of this posting, law enforcement officers in southern Colorado are searching for three people they believe are a part of a Forgery ring. According to the report, the scheme involves two men and a woman. They are forging cashier’s checks to purchase vehicles and then using those vehicles to drive around and steal mail out of mailboxes. It was reported that the woman will contact people selling their cars online and she provides them with a fake cashier’s check (which they obviously don’t know is fake until they try and deposit it). Then, she and her two buddies drive around and rummage through people’s mailboxes to find checks. When they find one, they alter them and cash them right away. Warrants have been issued, but no arrests have been made to date.
Larimer County Lawyer for Those Involved in a Forgery Ring: Definition of Forgery in Colorado
The Larimer County, Colorado law definition of Forgery – C.R.S. 18-5-102 – is:
(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 article 40 of title 44; 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.
The definition covers many different types of documents that can be involved in Forgery cases. The one that would likely apply in this case is subsection (c) because it specifically mentions checks. The definition covers making or altering, which applies to both creating the fake cashier’s checks and modifying the personal checks found in the mail.
If you or someone you love has been charged with Forgery, be smart, exercise your right to remain silent, and contact the best criminal defense attorneys from the O’Malley Law Office at 970-658-0007 to schedule your free initial consultation. Together, we can protect your future.
Image Source: Pixabay – pictavio