Maryland Forgery Lawyers

Counterfeiting Defense Attorneys in Glen Burnie, MD Offering Strong Legal Representation in Anne Arundel County, Baltimore County, Montgomery County, and Throughout Maryland

If you’re accused of passing off counterfeit cash or other items as the real deal or forging signatures on checks or other important documents, the legal trouble you’re facing may be much greater than you imagined. These non-violent crimes are considered a form of fraud. The intervention of seasoned Maryland forgery lawyers is crucial in avoiding the most severe repercussions and the harshest penalties.

At Maronick Law LLC, we represent those accused of forgery, counterfeiting, and other forms of fraud. Our counterfeiting defense attorneys in Glen Burnie, MD, begin each case with a free, confidential initial consultation. Contact us today for dedicated representation for a white-collar crime.

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Facing Forgery or Counterfeiting Charges in Maryland?

At both the state and federal levels, the government takes forgery and counterfeiting seriously. A charge of this nature could send you to jail for as long as a decade.

When you’re charged with making or possessing fake documents, currency, or other items with the intent to defraud or deceive, you need experienced legal counsel on your side. Maronick Law LLC’s Maryland forgery lawyers fight for the accused, advocating for the protection of their legal rights and fair treatment throughout all criminal proceedings.

Examples of Forgery and Counterfeit Charges

Forgery and counterfeiting are both criminal charges that pertain to fake or altered documents, money, and other items.

Crimes of forgery and counterfeiting in Maryland include:

• Signing someone else's name on a check or property title
• Making a significant alteration to someone else’s signature on a check or property title
• Possessing a forged document
• Producing counterfeit bills (cash)
• Possessing or transmitting digital templates for producing counterfeit currency
• Producing counterfeit checks
• Producing counterfeit wills
• Producing counterfeit motor vehicle titles
• Producing counterfeit promissory notes
• Producing counterfeit bonds
• Producing any other counterfeit official documents with the intent to defraud
• Producing or possessing counterfeit prescriptions
• Possession of any counterfeit document with the intent to defraud

State vs. Federal Offenses

Forgery and counterfeiting crimes are commonly charged at the state level. Numerous sections of the Maryland Criminal Law Article address crimes of forgery and counterfeiting.

Section 8-606 of Maryland’s Criminal Law Article prohibits willfully making a false entry or altering or removing a public record, an offense which constitutes a misdemeanor.

Forging or counterfeiting the signature of a judge or court employee is also a misdemeanor offense under Section 8-606.1, but this crime carries a higher potential penalty.

Counterfeiting or unlawfully using a public seal with the intent to defraud is an even more severe misdemeanor under Section 8-607, as is counterfeiting the stamp of the Comptroller under Section 8-608.

Making a counterfeit order for payment of money or the delivery of goods is a felony offense under Section 8-609 of the Maryland Criminal Law Article.

Any form of prescription fraud in Maryland is a misdemeanor offense under Section 8-610, regardless of whether the offense you’re accused of is counterfeiting the prescription, knowingly possessing the prescription, or attempting to use the forged prescription to obtain drugs.

Per Section 8-611, the grade and penalties for crimes of counterfeiting merchandise depend on the value of the goods. An aggregate retail value of less than $1,500 categorizes this offense as a misdemeanor, while a value of $1,500 or more constitutes a felony.

Section 8-612 of Maryland’s Criminal Law Article establishes counterfeiting or knowingly using a counterfeit ticket, coupon, or token as a misdemeanor offense.

Under Section 8-613, using counterfeit currency to obtain goods or services from a vending machine is a misdemeanor violation.

Some crimes of forgery and counterfeiting are federal offenses. For example, federal forgery charges are often filed when the forged items include official documents like passports, signatures on federal bonds, federal contracts, or any form of federal seals or court employee signatures. An offense may also constitute a federal crime when its commission crosses state lines in any form, including through wire or mail fraud or any transport of a forged or counterfeit item across state lines. Federal forgery charges are particularly serious crimes.

Regardless of what form of crime you are charged with, having Maryland forgery lawyers fighting for you offers the best chances of a favorable outcome to your case.

Penalties for Forgery Charges

Misdemeanor convictions of violating Section 8-606 of Maryland’s Criminal Law Article can send you to jail for up to three years, in addition to imposing a fine of up to $1,000.

If you’re convicted of falsifying or forging the signature of a court employee or judge, you could go to jail for five years and be charged $10,000 in fines, despite this offense also constituting a misdemeanor.

You could be subject to a two-year minimum prison sentence and potentially serve up to 10 years in jail if you’re convicted of the misdemeanor offense of forging a public seal or the stamp of the Comptroller.

For a felony offense of counterfeiting or knowingly profiting off of a counterfeit order for money or goods, you face a two-year minimum jail sentence with the potential for up to 10 years of incarceration.

For crimes of prescription forgery or counterfeiting, you can be sent to prison for up to two years.

Depending on the retail value of counterfeit goods, you could be sentenced to a maximum of one year in prison or up to 10 years in prison for the crime of manufacturing or willfully selling counterfeit merchandise.

Counterfeiting or knowingly using a counterfeit token or ticket is punishable by up to one year of incarceration.

For the use of counterfeit currency in a vending machine, you could face up to three months in prison.

Federal forgery charges may carry harsher penalties. Even the less severe forgery charges at the federal level could still send you to jail for up to three years, while several federal forgery offenses carry maximum penalties of up to five or even 10 years. If you’re charged with mail or wire fraud in connection with the forgery crime, you could be looking at up to 20 years in prison for this offense.

Even if your crime didn’t directly hurt anyone, the potential prison terms you’re looking at are life-changing. You should consult knowledgeable counterfeiting defense attorneys in Glen Burnie, MD, right away to help you manage this legal issue and minimize the impact of these charges on your life.

How Maronick Law LLC Can Help

Strong legal counsel provides the best opportunity to avoid a prison term or negotiate a lesser sentence. At Maronick Law LLC, we’re constantly working to achieve the outcome that benefits our clients as much as possible.

We Know How to Beat a Forgery Charge

Forgery cases are challenging, but our extensive experience and knowledge of the nuances of criminal law help us attain favorable resolutions for our clients. We can often get charges dropped or reduced, achieve not-guilty trial verdicts, or push for lighter sentences.

In a forgery case, the prosecution generally needs to prove not only that the document or item in question was forged or counterfeit but also that:

• You knew of the forgery and
• Your creation, possession, or attempted use of the counterfeit item was done with the intent to defraud

In your defense arguments, we may seek to establish a lack of knowledge or intent or to identify weaknesses in the prosecution’s case that make the prosecutor unable to prove knowledge of forgery or intent to defraud beyond a reasonable doubt.

Our Maryland Forgery Lawyers Take a Proven Approach to Criminal Defense

Our team approaches forgery and counterfeiting cases with an emphasis on building smart, strong strategies for criminal defense. To build your case, we:

• Thoroughly analyze the facts of your case
• Conduct our own investigation to gather all evidence that supports your defense
• Explore all paths to a positive outcome, from pre-trial motions to pushing for first-offender programs and alternative sentencing options
• Represent your best interests in all proceedings
• Advocate for your legal rights throughout the process

Our approach to crafting criminal defense strategies has helped us get favorable results for our clients.

Why Choose Maronick Law LLC?

Throughout the state, the accused have trusted our counterfeiting defense attorneys in Glen Burnie, MD, with their cases and their future. They rely on our experience, our personalized legal strategies, and our offer of complimentary initial consultations.

Decades of Criminal Defense Experience

The team at Maronick Law LLC has more than 80 years of combined experience representing clients charged with forgery, fraud, white-collar violations, and other crimes. We’re prepared to defend you against charges that range from misdemeanors to federal felonies.

Individualized Attention and Personalized Legal Strategies

No case is quite like yours. We construct individualized defense strategies for every client we serve based on the unique facts of your specific situation.

Free, Confidential Consultations

With so much at stake, you need to understand your legal options and the criminal law process. Maronick Law LLC offers free initial consultations and case reviews so you can explore your rights, potential avenues of defense, and what advantages our attorneys can bring to your case. We’re here to help you approach the legal process with as much confidence as possible.

Contact the Maryland Forgery Lawyers at Maronick Law LLC Today for a Free Case Review

White-collar crimes carry harsh penalties. Facing forgery charges without the legal guidance and representation you need could result in life-altering sentences. With aggressive advocacy, it’s possible to attain a more positive outcome.

For help from counterfeiting defense attorneys in Glen Burnie, MD, contact Maronick Law LLC online or call 443-351-6657 today.