Commonly referred to as white collar crimes, fraud, forgery, and worthless checks are typically committed in times of financial stress. We know the stress you must be under when you are facing charges like these and want to help you as you make your way through the criminal courts in Tennessee.
If you are wrongly accused of a fraud, embezzlement, or bad checks charge, I know you are angry. It is extremely upsetting to have to clear your name in a court of law. That is something we do everyday, so contact us to find out how we can help you.
On the other hand, if the situation is more complicated, then we can help too. When people are under stress, they often turn to drastic measures. Perhaps this is why you are now facing criminal charges for an offense like forgery or worthless checks. We know that when something like this happens, you are probably filled with regret and fear.
So if you made a mistake, we can help. And it doesn’t mean you deserve a harsh punishment. We will work to fix the problem, by looking for a reasonable outcome that puts this incident behind you.
As an experienced criminal defense law firm we have handled many cases like this in the Tennessee criminal courts. We know what you are up against and want to help. We can help ensure you get the best possible results in court and make sure all of your rights are being protected along the way.
In order to help you, we must hear about your case. We are interested in your side of things and what happened that led you to this point. Call to discuss your case today.
Tennessee Worthless Checks Laws
Considered a theft charge, worthless checks charge can happen in a few different ways. You may be charged with this offense if you:
- Write a check knowing there is not sufficient funds or that there will not be sufficient funds when the check goes through the bank; or
- Stop payment on a check after goods or services were received that require payment.
Ref: TCA 39-14-121
Tennessee Forgery Laws
Another theft charge, forgery involves forging or falsifying the signature of another person on a written document with the intent to defraud or harm. This could mean forging a contract, check, credit slip, or any number of things.
How forgery is charged depends on the value that was taken from the other person. Forgery, however, will never be less than a Class E felony punishable by 1-6 years in prison and fines up to $3,000.
Ref: TCA 39-14-114
Tennessee Fraud Laws
Fraud is a broad term that can refer to misrepresenting yourself or a situation in order to make an unlawful gain. Because general fraud doesn’t have its own law in the Tennessee books, it is considered a form of theft.
Under Tennessee criminal law, theft is defined as unlawful taking of goods or services through deception, fraud, or false pretenses.
Worthless checks, forgery and fraud are charged just like any other theft offense and depend on the value loss involved:
| If the value is: | Then the charge and sentence is: |
| $500 or less | Class A misdemeanor (Up to one year in jail and $2,500 in fines) |
| $500-$1,000 | Class E felony (1-6 years in prison and up to $3,000 in fines) |
| $1,000-$10,000 | Class D felony (2-12 years in prison and up to $5,000 in fines) |
| $10,000-$60,000 | Class C felony (3-15 years in prison and up to $10,000 in fines) |
| More than $60,000 | Class B felony (8-30 years in prison and up to $25,000 in fines) |
Ref: TCA 39-14-105
Get a Consultation on Tennessee Forgery and Bad Checks Laws
If you are facing charges or fraud, forgery, or related offenses in Tennessee, you need to talk to an experienced attorney that can get you the best results in court. Call for a consultation on your case today to find out exactly what we can do to help you.
Related fraud charges: identity theft and criminal impersonation.