Oklahoma has several forgery crimes. They are Sale, Delivery, or Receipt of Forged Notes or Instruments; Possession of Forged Notes or Instruments; Other Forged Instruments; and Publishing Counterfeited Instruments or Coins as True.
Sale, Delivery, or Receipt of Forged Notes or Instruments
It’s illegal to
- sell, exchange, or deliver for any consideration any forged or counterfeited promissory note, check, bill, draft, or other evidence of debt, or engagement for the payment of money absolutely, or upon any contingency, knowing the it to be forged or counterfeited, with intent to have the same uttered or passed;
- offer any forged or counterfeited promissory note, check, bill, draft, or other evidence of debt, or engagement for the payment of money absolutely for sale, exchange or delivery for any consideration, knowing the it to be forged or counterfeited, with intent to have the same uttered or passed;
- receive any forged or counterfeited promissory note, check, bill, draft, or other evidence of debt, or engagement for the payment of money absolutely upon a sale, exchange or delivery for any consideration knowing the it to be forged or counterfeited, with intent to have the same uttered or passed.
A series of offenses may be aggregated into one offense when they are the result of the formulation of a plan or scheme or the setting up of a mechanism which, when put into operation, results in the taking or diversion of money or property on a recurring basis. When all acts result from a continuing course of conduct, they may be aggregated into one crime. Acts forming an integral part of the first taking which facilitate subsequent takings, or acts taken in preparation of several takings which facilitate subsequent takings, are relevant to determine the intent of the party to commit a continuing crime.
Punishment for this is as follows:
| Property Value | Type of Crime | Jail/Prison | Fine |
|---|---|---|---|
| < $1,000 | Misdemeanor | Up to 1 yr jail | ≤ $1,000 |
| ≥ $1,000 & < $2,500 | Felony | Up to 2 yrs prison or 1 yr jail | ≤ $1,000 |
| ≥ $2,500 & < $15,000 | Felony | Up to 5 yrs prison or 1 yr jail | ≤ $1,000 |
| ≥ $15,000 | Felony | Up to 8 yrs prison | ≤ $1,000 |
Charged with Sale, Delivery, or Receipt of Forged Notes or Instruments in Oklahoma? Get a free case consultation.
Source: 21 O.S. § 1577
Possession of Forged Notes or Instruments
| Property Value | Type of Crime | Jail/Prison | Fine |
|---|---|---|---|
| < $1,000 | Misdemeanor | Up to 1 yr jail | ≤ $1,000 |
| ≥ $1,000 & < $2,500 | Felony | Up to 2 yrs prison or 1 yr jail | ≤ $1,000 |
| ≥ $2,500 & < $15,000 | Felony | Up to 5 yrs prison or 1 yr jail | ≤ $1,000 |
| ≥ $15,000 | Felony | Up to 8 yrs prison | ≤ $1,000 |
Charged with possession of forged notes or instruments in Oklahoma? Get a free case consultation.
Source: 21 O.S. § 1578
Other Forged Instruments
It’s illegal to have in your possession any forged or counterfeited instrument, the forgery of which is declared to be punishable, other than such as are enumerated in a specific section of the law knowing that it’s forged, counterfeited, or falsely altered with intent to injure or defraud by uttering the instrument to be true, or as false, or by causing the instrument to be uttered.
A series of offenses may be aggregated into one offense when they are the result of the formulation of a plan or scheme or the setting up of a mechanism which, when put into operation, results in the taking or diversion of money or property on a recurring basis. When all acts result from a continuing course of conduct, they may be aggregated into one crime. Acts forming an integral part of the first taking which facilitate subsequent takings, or acts taken in preparation of several takings which facilitate subsequent takings, are relevant to determine the intent of the party to commit a continuing crime.
| Property Value | Type of Crime | Jail/Prison | Fine |
|---|---|---|---|
| < $1,000 | Misdemeanor | Up to 1 yr jail | ≤ $1,000 |
| ≥ $1,000 & < $2,500 | Felony | Up to 2 yrs prison or 1 yr jail | ≤ $1,000 |
| ≥ $2,500 & < $15,000 | Felony | Up to 5 yrs prison or 1 yr jail | ≤ $1,000 |
| ≥ $15,000 | Felony | Up to 8 yrs prison | ≤ $1,000 |
Charged with forgery of other instruments in Oklahoma? Get a free case consultation.
Source: 21 O.S. § 1579
Publishing Counterfeited Instruments or Coins as True
It’s illegal to, with intent to defraud, utter or publish as true any forged, altered or counterfeited instrument or any counterfeit gold or silver coin, the forging, altering or counterfeiting of which has previously been declared to be punishable, knowing that the instrument or coin is forged, altered, or counterfeited.
A series of offenses may be aggregated into one offense when they are the result of the formulation of a plan or scheme or the setting up of a mechanism which, when put into operation, results in the taking or diversion of money or property on a recurring basis. When all acts result from a continuing course of conduct, they may be aggregated into one crime. Acts forming an integral part of the first taking which facilitate subsequent takings, or acts taken in preparation of several takings which facilitate subsequent takings, are relevant to determine the intent of the party to commit a continuing crime.
| Property Value | Type of Crime | Jail/Prison | Fine |
|---|---|---|---|
| < $1,000 | Misdemeanor | Up to 1 yr jail | ≤ $1,000 |
| ≥ $1,000 & < $2,500 | Felony | Up to 2 yrs prison or 1 yr jail | ≤ $1,000 |
| ≥ $2,500 & < $15,000 | Felony | Up to 5 yrs prison or 1 yr jail | ≤ $1,000 |
| ≥ $15,000 | Felony | Up to 8 yrs prison | ≤ $1,000 |
Source: 21 O.S. § 1592
Current as of March 29, 2020. Laws are subject to change at any time! Go to the sources cited above for the most up-to-date law.
Charged with theft in Oklahoma? Call Oklahoma larceny attorney Frank Urbanic in OKC for a free case consultation.