Counterfeiting Offenses

Many people believe that counterfeiting is a minor crime that, if caught, only results in having to pay the money back and maybe a small fine. Trying to pass off a fake coin or bill may not seem like a big deal. Perhaps you’ve created fake checks or modified routing numbers to land some extra money in your account. While you may think that making a fake piece of paper or modifying a legitimate one is a minor offense, it is in fact a serious crime with costly fines, jail time, and other harsh penalties.

In the state of Florida, counterfeiting is considered forgery and is classified as a third degree felony. Even if you only created one false dollar bill or modified one check, you can find yourself facing counterfeit charges. While this may seem like a harsh punishment for a nonviolent crime, counterfeiting operations defraud Americans of thousands of dollars every year and arguably hurt many more people on a much larger scale than do some violent crimes.

If you have been arrested for counterfeiting, remember that you have a right to legal representation and do not have to disclose any information to the police. Consider contacting a criminal defense attorney as soon as possible after your arrest to begin planning the best course of action. All information that you disclose to a lawyer is completely confidential and can help in preparing your defense for court. A good criminal defense attorney will help protect your rights under the law and fight to defend against an overzealous prosecution.

Contact Us

For sound legal advice and assistance with preparing your defense for court, don’t hesitate to contact the aggressive, experienced West Palm Beach criminal lawyers of Eric N. Klein & Associates, P.A. today at 561-353-2800.