ILCS » Chapter 720 · Act 5
Illinois Compiled Statutes

720 ILCS 5/17-3 (2026)

Forgery

✓ current as of May 2026
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(720 ILCS 5/17-3) (from Ch. 38, par. 17-3)
    Sec. 17-3. Forgery.
    (a) A person commits forgery when, with intent to defraud, he or she knowingly:
        (1) makes a false document or alters any document to
    
make it false and that document is apparently capable of defrauding another; or
        (2) issues or delivers such document knowing it to
    
have been thus made or altered; or
        (3) possesses, with intent to issue or deliver, any
    
such document knowing it to have been thus made or altered; or
        (4) unlawfully uses the digital signature, as defined
    
in the Financial Institutions Electronic Documents and Digital Signature Act, of another; or
        (5) unlawfully creates an electronic signature of
    
another person, as that term is defined in the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.
    (b) (Blank).
    (c) A document apparently capable of defrauding another includes, but is not limited to, one by which any right, obligation or power with reference to any person or property may be created, transferred, altered or terminated. A document includes any record or electronic record as those terms are defined in the Electronic Commerce Security Act. For purposes of this Section, a document also includes a Universal Price Code Label or coin.
    (c-5) For purposes of this Section, "false document" or "document that is false" includes, but is not limited to, a document whose contents are false in some material way, or that purports to have been made by another or at another time, or with different provisions, or by authority of one who did not give such authority.
    (d) Sentence.
        (1) Except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3),
    
forgery is a Class 3 felony.
        (2) Forgery is a Class 4 felony when only one
    
Universal Price Code Label is forged.
        (3) Forgery is a Class A misdemeanor when an academic
    
degree or coin is forged.
    (e) It is not a violation of this Section if a false academic degree explicitly states "for novelty purposes only".
(Source: P.A. 102-38, eff. 6-25-21.)

    
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 60 cases (26 in the last 5 years), 1993–2026 · leading case: People v. Johnson, 2018 IL App (1st) 150209 (Ill. App. Ct. 2018).
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People v. Johnson, 2018 IL App (1st) 150209 (Ill. App. Ct. 2018). · cites it 6× “In light of this record, however, carrying $930 in counterfeit bills is a neutral factor.”
People v. Brown, 2013 IL 114196 (Ill. 2013). · cites it 6× “) 720 ILCS 5/17-3(a) (West 2006).4 ¶ 38 The gist of forgery is the intent to defraud.”
People v. Brown, 2013 IL 114196 (Ill. 2014). · cites it 8× “) 720 ILCS 5/17-3(a) (West 2006).4 ¶ 38 The gist of forgery is the intent to defraud.”
People v. Muzzarelli, 770 N.E.2d 1232 (Ill. App. Ct. 2002). · cites it 7× “A To establish the offense of forgery, the State must prove that a defendant (1) had an intent to defraud; (2) knowingly made or altered a document; (3) did so in such a manner that the document purported to have been made by another; and (4) that the document was apparently…”
People v. Spicer, 884 N.E.2d 675 (Ill. App. Ct. 2008). · cites it 5× “" [14] The indictment alleged two counts of forgery: forgery by knowingly altering a document, in violation of section 17-3(a)(1); (720 ILCS 5/17-3(a)(1)( West 2000 )); and forgery by knowingly delivering a document, in violation of section 17-3(a)(2)(720 ILCS 5/17-3(a)(2)( West…”
People v. Vingara, 2023 IL App (5th) 230698 (Ill. App. Ct. 2023). “Count V alleged forgery (720 ILCS 5/17-3(a)(2) (West 2022)), a Class 3 felony, with eligibility for an extended-term sentence based upon a prior Class X conviction in Coles County.”
People v. Sneed, 2023 IL 127968 (Ill. 2023). · cites it 2× “The charges stemmed from the discovery of two false paychecks that were payable to defendant, endorsed by him, and cashed and/or deposited via mobile deposit. Police procured a search warrant for defendant’s cell phone but were unable to execute the warrant because the cell…”
O'Malley v. Adams, 2023 IL App (5th) 210381 (Ill. App. Ct. 2023). · cites it 3× “The Prather Trust brought counts against Bridgeview for forgery under section 17-3 of the Criminal Code of 2012 (Criminal Code) (720 ILCS 5/17-3 (West 2020)) (count X), mail and wire fraud under section 17-24 of the Criminal Code (720 ILCS 5/17-24 (West 2020)) (count XI),…”
People v. Caraga, 2018 IL App (1st) 170123 (Ill. App. Ct. 2018). “720 ILCS 5/17-3(a)(2) (West 2012). An individual commits wire fraud when he or she transmits or causes to be transmitted any writing for the purposes of obtaining money or property by false pretenses, representations, or promises.”
People v. Liss, 2012 IL App (2d) 101191 (Ill. App. Ct. 2012). · cites it 2× “Liss, was charged by indictment with one count of forgery (720 ILCS 5/17-3(a)(2) (West 2008)). Following a jury trial held in the defendant’s absence, he was found guilty and sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment.”
People v. Lawson, 2015 IL App (2d) 140604 (Ill. App. Ct. 2015). · cites it 4× “” 720 ILCS 5/17-3(c-5) (West 2012). ¶ 22 “[T]he State must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that a defendant, with the intent to defraud, knowingly made or altered a document such that it is capable of defrauding another.”
People v. Villarreal, 2022 IL App (2d) 200077 (Ill. App. Ct. 2022). · cites it 2× “1(b)(4) (West 2018)), forgery (720 ILCS 5/17-3(a)(3) (West 2018)), and unlawful possession of a theft detection device remover (id.”
Show all 60 citing cases →
— 720 ILCS 5/17-3(A)(1) — 1 case
People v. Schram (Ill. App. Ct. 1996).
— 720 ILCS 5/17-3(a) — 7 cases
People v. Brown, 2013 IL 114196 (Ill. 2013). “) 720 ILCS 5/17-3(a) (West 2006).4 ¶ 38 The gist of forgery is the intent to defraud.”
People v. Brown, 2013 IL 114196 (Ill. 2014). “) 720 ILCS 5/17-3(a) (West 2006).4 ¶ 38 The gist of forgery is the intent to defraud.”
People v. Lee, 621 N.E.2d 287 (Ill. App. Ct. 1993).
People v. Fontana, 622 N.E.2d 893 (Ill. App. Ct. 1993).
People v. Colley, 2022 IL App (1st) 200097-U (Ill. App. Ct. 2022).
— 720 ILCS 5/17-3(a)(1) — 27 cases
People v. Brown, 2013 IL 114196 (Ill. 2013). “) 720 ILCS 5/17-3(a) (West 2006).4 ¶ 38 The gist of forgery is the intent to defraud.”
People v. Brown, 2013 IL 114196 (Ill. 2014). “) 720 ILCS 5/17-3(a) (West 2006).4 ¶ 38 The gist of forgery is the intent to defraud.”
People v. Sneed, 2023 IL 127968 (Ill. 2023). “The charges stemmed from the discovery of two false paychecks that were payable to defendant, endorsed by him, and cashed and/or deposited via mobile deposit. Police procured a search warrant for defendant’s cell phone but were unable to execute the warrant because the cell…”
People v. Spicer, 884 N.E.2d 675 (Ill. App. Ct. 2008). “" [14] The indictment alleged two counts of forgery: forgery by knowingly altering a document, in violation of section 17-3(a)(1); (720 ILCS 5/17-3(a)(1)( West 2000 )); and forgery by knowingly delivering a document, in violation of section 17-3(a)(2)(720 ILCS 5/17-3(a)(2)( West…”
People v. Johnson, 2018 IL App (1st) 150209 (Ill. App. Ct. 2018). “In light of this record, however, carrying $930 in counterfeit bills is a neutral factor.”
— 720 ILCS 5/17-3(a)(1)(2000) — 2 cases
People v. Spicer, 884 N.E.2d 675 (Ill. App. Ct. 2008). “" [14] The indictment alleged two counts of forgery: forgery by knowingly altering a document, in violation of section 17-3(a)(1); (720 ILCS 5/17-3(a)(1)( West 2000 )); and forgery by knowingly delivering a document, in violation of section 17-3(a)(2)(720 ILCS 5/17-3(a)(2)( West…”
People v. Spicer (Ill. App. Ct. 2008).
— 720 ILCS 5/17-3(a)(2) — 19 cases
People v. Vingara, 2023 IL App (5th) 230698 (Ill. App. Ct. 2023). “Count V alleged forgery (720 ILCS 5/17-3(a)(2) (West 2022)), a Class 3 felony, with eligibility for an extended-term sentence based upon a prior Class X conviction in Coles County.”
People v. Spicer, 884 N.E.2d 675 (Ill. App. Ct. 2008). “" [14] The indictment alleged two counts of forgery: forgery by knowingly altering a document, in violation of section 17-3(a)(1); (720 ILCS 5/17-3(a)(1)( West 2000 )); and forgery by knowingly delivering a document, in violation of section 17-3(a)(2)(720 ILCS 5/17-3(a)(2)( West…”
People v. Caraga, 2018 IL App (1st) 170123 (Ill. App. Ct. 2018). “720 ILCS 5/17-3(a)(2) (West 2012). An individual commits wire fraud when he or she transmits or causes to be transmitted any writing for the purposes of obtaining money or property by false pretenses, representations, or promises.”
People v. Liss, 2012 IL App (2d) 101191 (Ill. App. Ct. 2012). “Liss, was charged by indictment with one count of forgery (720 ILCS 5/17-3(a)(2) (West 2008)). Following a jury trial held in the defendant’s absence, he was found guilty and sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment.”
People v. Brown, 2013 IL 114196 (Ill. 2014). “) 720 ILCS 5/17-3(a) (West 2006).4 ¶ 38 The gist of forgery is the intent to defraud.”
— 720 ILCS 5/17-3(a)(3) — 5 cases
People v. Johnson, 2018 IL App (1st) 150209 (Ill. App. Ct. 2018). “In light of this record, however, carrying $930 in counterfeit bills is a neutral factor.”
People v. Villarreal, 2022 IL App (2d) 200077 (Ill. App. Ct. 2022). “1(b)(4) (West 2018)), forgery (720 ILCS 5/17-3(a)(3) (West 2018)), and unlawful possession of a theft detection device remover (id.”
People v. Meakens, 2021 IL App (2d) 180991 (Ill. App. Ct. 2021).
People v. Meakens, 2021 IL App (2d) 180991 (Ill. App. Ct. 2021).
People v. Villareal, 2022 IL App (2d) 220077-U (Ill. App. Ct. 2022).
— 720 ILCS 5/17-3(a)(l) — 1 case
People v. Davis, 627 N.E.2d 749 (Ill. App. Ct. 1994).
— 720 ILCS 5/17-3(b) — 4 cases
People v. Muzzarelli, 770 N.E.2d 1232 (Ill. App. Ct. 2002). “A To establish the offense of forgery, the State must prove that a defendant (1) had an intent to defraud; (2) knowingly made or altered a document; (3) did so in such a manner that the document purported to have been made by another; and (4) that the document was apparently…”
People v. Brown, 2013 IL 114196 (Ill. 2013). “) 720 ILCS 5/17-3(a) (West 2006).4 ¶ 38 The gist of forgery is the intent to defraud.”
People v. Brown, 2013 IL 114196 (Ill. 2014). “) 720 ILCS 5/17-3(a) (West 2006).4 ¶ 38 The gist of forgery is the intent to defraud.”
People v. Muzzarelli (Ill. App. Ct. 2002).
— 720 ILCS 5/17-3(c) — 4 cases
People v. Muzzarelli, 770 N.E.2d 1232 (Ill. App. Ct. 2002). “A To establish the offense of forgery, the State must prove that a defendant (1) had an intent to defraud; (2) knowingly made or altered a document; (3) did so in such a manner that the document purported to have been made by another; and (4) that the document was apparently…”
People v. Lawson, 2015 IL App (2d) 140604 (Ill. App. Ct. 2015). “” 720 ILCS 5/17-3(c-5) (West 2012). ¶ 22 “[T]he State must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that a defendant, with the intent to defraud, knowingly made or altered a document such that it is capable of defrauding another.”
People v. Lawson, 2015 IL App (2d) 140604 (Ill. App. Ct. 2015).
People v. Muzzarelli (Ill. App. Ct. 2002).
— 720 ILCS 5/17-3(d)(1) — 4 cases
People v. Marshall, 2024 IL App (4th) 230463-U (Ill. App. Ct. 2024).
People v. Moylan, 2025 IL App (3d) 230248-U (Ill. App. Ct. 2025).
People v. Leggett, 2026 IL App (2d) 250110-U (Ill. App. Ct. 2026).
People v. Swanson, 2023 IL App (3d) 210399 (Ill. App. Ct. 2023).
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