White Collar Crime, Internal & Government Investigations
Falsification of Documents
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Document falsification is a serious matter. Someone convicted of this act could face heavy fines or years of imprisonment, possibly both. There are many ways to falsify documents. For instance, if you answer questions on a form by providing false information or use company letterhead without authorization, you could run afoul of the law. Forging a signature comes under this category as does the act of altering, concealing, or destroying records.
In order to be convicted of falsifying documents, the accused person must have acted with criminal intent. Some business forms such as corporations can also be charged with falsifying documents.
Types of documents that are often forged include:
- Tax returns and income statements
- Personal checks
- Bank account records
- Business record keeping books
- Immigration documents (such as visas, passports, etc.)
- Identification cards and birth certificates
There are several ways that one can find themselves in trouble for falsifying or forging documents including:
- Altering or misrepresenting factual information such as prices or monetary amounts
- Forging a signature on official documents
- Using official letterheads without authorization
- Concealing assets or property, most likely during bankruptcy
- Knowingly using or distributing a fake document
- Destroying information material to an investigation
Aside from possible financial penalties and likely incarceration, forging documents can have several other consequences. It can result in job termination, reduction of credit score, disqualification for bank loans, grounds for ineligibility for passport records, being the subject of lawsuits, or being audited more often by the IRS.
If you or someone you know is being investigated or has already been charged with falsifying documents, it is vitally important that you retain the services of a reputable and proven white collar crime defense attorney. Tucker Arensberg offers highly qualified defenders with decades of invaluable experience obtained at both the state and federal level. Complete our form for a free consultation with our experienced criminal defense team.