Irvine Counterfeiting Defense Lawyers
WHITE COLLAR CRIME CHARGES
Counterfeiting in CA
The illegal imitation of something else fraudulently passed off as genuine is referred to as counterfeiting. As a white collar crime, counterfeiting does not involve violence or physical harm, but does take advantage of innocent consumers for financial gain. There are various products that may be counterfeited, including clothing, toys, software, watches, and even pharmaceuticals; however, the most commonly forged or counterfeited items are usually art or currency. Counterfeiting, which is generally synonymous with forgery, carries both state and federal penalties. Local and state law enforcement and courts handle counterfeiting on the state level. The United States Secret Service, which was initially formed to battle counterfeiting of U.S. currency, handles counterfeiting crimes on the federal level.
Some Counterfeiting Facts
According to the International AntiCounterfeiting Coalition (IACC), counterfeiting, especially of consumer merchandise, costs American businesses between $200 billion and $250 billion each year and is directly responsible for the deprivation of over 750,000 U.S. jobs. In the last 20 years, the crime of counterfeiting has grown over 10,000 percent.
California Counterfeiting Law
The laws surrounding counterfeiting and forgery in California are very specific. Counterfeiting is a felony and, although the state stipulates penalties for a number of counterfeiting offenses, including the counterfeiting of any public transportation fare media such as a ticket, pass, or receipt, the harshest penalties are reserved for counterfeiters of currency. According to § 477 – 480 of the California Penal Code, any person who counterfeits, passes, sells, procures, utters, or uses for payment for fraudulent purposes any type of gold or silver coin currently used in the state, or any type of gold or silver bullion, gold dust, lumps, bars, nuggets, bank notes, or bills is guilty of counterfeiting and is subject to imprisonment in county jail for two, three, or four years. A person possessing any of the equipment or machinery, such as dies or plates, to manufacture such counterfeits is also punishable by two, three, or four years in a county jail. Fines may also be imposed.
U.S. Counterfeiting Law
The main area of concern in federal counterfeiting laws is the counterfeiting of any U.S. obligation or security, including currency. According to Title 18 § 471 of the United States Code, if a person is convicted of the federal offense of counterfeiting U.S. currency, or any other obligation or security with the intent to defraud, he or she would be charged with a felony and subject to a maximum of 20 years in federal prison and/or an exorbitant fine.
A Defense Attorney You Can Trust
Counterfeiting is a serious crime, especially on the federal level. It carries a felony charge that sticks with you for the rest of your life, compromising your future. A key component of proving that a person is guilty of counterfeiting is demonstrating that the suspected offender had intent to defraud. If you have been charged with counterfeiting in California, you need an aggressive and experienced Irvine white collar crime defense lawyer to protect your legal rights from prosecutors who may spin the case in any way to get a conviction. Jeremy N. Goldman can help you understand your legal rights and options. Call today for a consultation at (800) 349-1619.
