Forgery.

Forgery, at its core, involves a situation where person is accused of "making, completing, altering, or uttering" some sort of legal document "with the intent to defraud.  It can involve the manipulation of money, stamps, securities, stocks, bonds, instruments representing interests in or claims against a corporate organization.  It can also involve the manipulation of a will, codicil, contract, assignment, commercial instrument or promissory note.  It also involves public records, such as an instrument that is filed or required to be filed by law within a public agency.  Forgery is normally a class five felony but can also be charged as a misdemeanor in certain circumstances.

Criminal Impersonation. 

Criminal Impersonation involves a situation where a person "knowingly assumes a false or fictitious identity" and in that identity, he or she makes certain misrepresentations.  There are several different ways that this can be charged but most commonly, a person is accused of using the "fake or fictitious identity" to "perform an act that, if done by the person impersonated, might subject such person to an action or special proceeding" or some sort of legal penalty or does an act "with intent to unlawfully gain a benefit for himself, herself, or another or to injure or defraud another person.  Criminal Impersonation is a class six felony.  

Identity Theft. 

Identity Theft involves a circumstance where a person uses the "personal identifying information," "financial identifying information," or "financial device" of another person with the "intent" to gain something of value.  An example of personal identifying information would be a social security number or a a driver's license number.  Financial identifying information would be a checking account number or a savings account number.  Financial device would be a debit card or a credit card.  There are several other ways that Identity Theft can be charged but this is the most common way it is charged.  Identity Theft is a class four felony.

Criminal Possession of a Financial Device or Identification Document.

Criminal Possession of a Financial Device involves a situation where a person possess a "financial device" (a credit card, debit card, or something similar) that the actor knows or "reasonable should know" to be lost, stolen, or delivered by mistake.  Typically Criminal Possession of a Financial Device is a class one misdemeanor, however, it is aggravated to a class six felony if more than two devices are possessed and a class five felony if more than four devices are possessed.

Criminal Possession of an Identification Document is when a person knowingly has in their possession or control a driver's license, government issued identification card, social security card, or passport of another while knowing that the actor is possessing it without permission.  Typically, Criminal Possession of an Identification Document is a Class one misdemeanor, however, it is aggravated to a class six felony if more than two documents are possessed. 

​​You Will Need an Experienced Criminal Defense Attorney.

Fraud and crimes of dishonesty are very serious charges that can put your liberty in jeopardy.  Do not go into the fight without an experienced advocate.  Choosing an experienced lawyer is the best decision you can make early on in your case.  Criminal Defense Attorney providing defense services in Longmont, Frederick, Lyons, Mead, Berthoud, Erie, Firestone, Niwot, and Dacono​​​.  To schedule a free consultation, call The Merson Law Office at 970-219-2923 or 303-776-3511.  Or fill out an intake form here.