State Police Arrest Man on Multiple Felony Counts of Fraud and Forgery
The Delaware State Police arrested a 42-year-old suspect of Wilmington, Delaware, for multiple felony counts related to fraud, forgery, and passing bad checks. The offenses occurred in Townsend in early November.
On November 12, 2024, troopers began investigating a report of an attempted theft of a residence in Townsend. According to the investigation, troopers learned the suspect attempted to purchase a residence in Townsend with a bad check and provided multiple forged bank documents to facilitate the fraud. Troop 2 Criminal Investigations Detectives learned that the suspect was linked to similar incidents in Delaware, North Carolina, and Virginia. Detectives then obtained a warrant for multiple felony offenses.
On November 25, 2024, the suspect was arrested and taken into custody by troopers at the Probation and Parole Office in New Castle. He was then taken to Troop 2 where he was charged with several felonies. He was released from custody after posting a $44,000 bond. The suspect has been charged with the following crimes:
- Forgery 1st Degree (Felony) – 2 counts
- Attempted to Commit Theft Where the Property Value is $100,000 or More (Felony)
- Issuing a Bad Check Equal or Over $1,500 (Felony)
- Falsifying Business Records – 2 counts
The crime of forgery in Delaware
The defendant is facing two counts of Forgery in the 1st Degree. The crime of forgery is defined under 11 DE Code § 861. Under the law, a person is guilty of forgery when, intending to defraud, deceive, or injure another person, or knowing that the person is facilitating a fraud or injury to be perpetrated by anyone, the person:
- Alters any written instrument of another person without the other person’s authority; or
- Makes, completes, executes, authenticates, issues, or transfers any written instrument which purports to be the act of another person, whether real or fictitious, who did not authorize that act, or to have been executed at a time or place or in a numbered sequence other than was in fact the case or to be a copy of an original when no original existed; or
- Possesses a written instrument, knowing that it was made, completed or altered under circumstances constituting forgery.
In this case, the defendant fabricated bank statements to facilitate a fraud against a homeowner who was selling their house.
Forgery is considered a felony in the first degree when “the written instrument” (the allegedly forged document) purports to be a) Part of an issue of money, stamps, securities, or other valuable instruments issued by a government or a governmental instrumentality; or b) part of an issue of stock, bonds, or other instruments representing interests in or claims against a corporation, business enterprise or other organization or its property.
Forgery in the First Degree is considered a Class F felony punishable by up to three years in state prison.
Talk to a Wilmington, DE Fraud Criminal Defense Attorney Today
Michael W. Modica represents the interests of Delaware residents who have been charged with white-collar crimes such as fraud and forgery. Call our Wilmington criminal lawyers today to schedule an appointment, and we can begin preparing your defense immediately.
Source:
dsp.delaware.gov/2024/11/27/state-police-arrest-man-for-multiple-felony-fraud-related-offenses-in-townsend/
