What is the charge for stealing checks?

The crime is a wobbler offense under California law. This means a prosecutor can charge it as either a misdemeanor or a felony. If charged as a misdemeanor, the crime is punishable by up to one year in county jail. If charged as a felony, check fraud is punishable by up to three years in county jail.

Is forging a check a federal crime?

Forgery is considered a crime in all 50 states and on the federal level. While state level forgery is punishable in a state prison, federal forgery is a much more serious offense punishable by incarceration in a federal prison, as well as costly fines.

Is forgery a crime?

How do you get a forgery charge dismissed?

One of the most effective defenses is claiming that you did not intend to defraud or injure anyone. This can get your charges dropped immediately, as criminal intent is key in reaching a conviction for forgery. It might also be the case that you were simply in possession of a forged document without even knowing it.

Is forgery punishable by law?

The Attorney-General points out that the penalty for the forgery or falsification of checks as provided by article 301 of the Penal Code, as amended by Act No. 2712, is prision correccional in its maximum degree, which is from four years, two months and one day to six years.

What happens when someone forges your signature on a check?

Someone forged my signature on the back of the check and then cashed it. The person who wrote you the check might be able to be reimbursed by their bank or credit union and write you a new check. If the check was processed as an electronic transfer, you have additional protections under federal law.

Is check forgery a federal offense?

Who is responsible for check forgery?

Banks are supposed to have measures in place to detect forgery and the ability to recognize the signatures of their customers. Therefore, a forged check that a bank paid is presumed to be the bank’s mistake and it’s considered liable for returning the funds to their rightful owner.