Las Vegas Criminal Defense Blog

Last week a woman from Nevada as well as a man from Maryland were charged with grand theft and forgery stemming from an alleged investment fraud scheme involving a South Dakota Native American tribe. They're accused of misleading investors regarding a tribal charter to run a credit union located on the Yankton Sioux Reservation. They reportedly received nearly $400,000 from investors.

The Nevada crime of forgery makes it unlawful to create or utilize falsified documentation with the intention to defraud. Examples of forgery are using counterfeit checks, fake court orders or a doctored contract. A typical defense to the Nevada crime of forgery is that the defendant didn't have an intent to defraud.

The punishment for committing the Nevada crime of forgery turns on the type of fraud. For the most part, forging documents is a category D felony carrying up to 4 years in prison and maybe a $5,000 fine. And knowingly having or receiving forged documents is a category C felony with 5 years in prison and maybe up to $10,000 in fines.

For more on this story go to: http://nativetimes.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4891:2-face-charges-in-alleged-fraud-scheme-in-sd&catid=55&Itemid=31

Last week a Clark County District Court judge agreed to grant a new trial to a Las Vegas process server on 17 perjury charges. However, the prosecutor said the state will bring new charges as well. Among these are allegations that he violated Nevada forgery law.

Nevada forgery law makes it a crime to make or use falsified documents with intent to defraud. Typical forgery cases involve fake checks and doctored contracts and wills. Common defenses include lack of intent to defraud and false accusations.

The penalties for violating Nevada forgery law vary depending on the type of forgery. In general, forging such documents as checks, contracts and court orders is a category D felony carrying one to four years in prison, restitution, and maybe up to $5,000 in fines. And knowingly possessing or receiving forged documents with intent to defraud is a category C felony carrying one to five years in prison, restitution, and maybe up to $10,000 in fines.

For more on this story go to: http://www.lvrj.com/news/former-process-server-carroll-wins-new-trial-but-could-face-new-charges-114398164.html?ref=164\

Two weeks ago the Nye County Sheriff’s Office unearthed a possible forgery ring in Pahrump, resulting in sixteen arrests. More than a dozen other people are wanted for questioning.

The alleged mastermind of the ring, Lamont Harris, has been charged with 170 criminal counts. Thirty-four are for breaking forgery law in Las Vegas. Other charges include obtaining money under false pretense, burglary, and conspiracy to commit a crime. He’s in custody on $850,000 bail.

Harris allegedly broke forgery law in Las Vegas by defrauding payday loan companies. He supposedly forged social security disability income award letters and instructed other participants in the ring to get loans against the letters.

Forgery Law in Las Vegas prohibits faking or altering a document, signature, etc., for the illegal benefit of the person making the forgery. Most forgery laws in Nevada are punishable as a category D felony, carrying one to four years in prison and maybe a $5,000 fine, plus restitution.