The federal laws of the U.S. say that it is a crime if you tamper with court records or falsely represent yourself as a surety to post bail on behalf of a defendant. The crimes are felony offenses (as opposed to misdemeanors) are punishable by substantial fines and up to five years in federal prison. Please contact a skilled criminal defense attorney now if you are facing a charge of any type of federal crime.
How Does Federal Law Define Tampering with Court Records and False Bail?
18 USC 1506 is the federal statute that sets forth the laws on tampering with court records and false bail. According to this statute, you commit a crime if you:
- Tamper with court records, or
- Falsely represent yourself as a surety to post bail for a defendant.
Examples of criminal acts under this statute include:
- Stealing official court documents,
- Altering the content of a court document,
- Forging someone’s signature on a court document, or
- Falsely representing yourself as a surety to post bail.
Note that a “surety” is a person or entity that promises to be responsible for another party’s financial obligations or debts. A surety is often involved in a surety bond, which is a legal contract that binds the surety to pay money if a defendant fails to meet their obligations.
What are the Penalties?
The specific penalties for false bail and altering court document charges will vary depending on the federal sentencing guidelines. With that said, however, the crimes are generally punishable by:
- Custody in federal prison for up to five years, and/or
- A maximum fine of $250,000.
Can a Defendant Raise a Legal Defense?
Yes. You have the right to challenge a charge under 18 USC 1506 with a legal defense. A common defense, as to tampering with court records, is for you to say that you did not act with criminal intent. For example, you would not likely be charged with a crime if you can prove that you accidentally altered a court record, as opposed to intentionally tampered with one.
Your criminal defense lawyer can also challenge a charge by showing that the authorities somehow violated your rights, maybe by:
- Conducting an unlawful search and seizure,
- Arresting you without probable cause; or
- Coercing a confession.
If any of the above, your defense attorney can move to have your charges reduced or even dropped altogether.
Contact Black & Askerov for Help
While a defendant can raise a legal defense to challenge an 18 USC 1506 charge, it will take a skilled criminal defense attorney to raise the best defense. The experienced criminal defense attorneys at Black & Askerov have over 30 years of combined experience defending clients on various criminal charges under federal law. Our Seattle criminal defense lawyers also have the skill and commitment that makes all the difference in these cases. Contact us now to get the legal help you deserve!
* Main image at top by freepik
