Minn. Stat. » CHAPTER 609. CRIMINAL CODE
Minnesota Statutes

Minn. Stat. § 609.631 (2026)

Check Forgery; Offering Forged Check

✓ current as of May 2026
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Subdivision 1.Definitions.

(a) The definitions in this subdivision apply to this section.

(b) "Check" means a check, draft, order of withdrawal, or similar negotiable or nonnegotiable instrument.

(c) "Property" and "services" have the meanings given in section 609.52.

Subd. 2.Check forgery; elements.

A person is guilty of check forgery and may be sentenced under subdivision 4 if the person, with intent to defraud, does any of the following:

(1) falsely makes or alters a check so that it purports to have been made by another or by the maker under an assumed or fictitious name, or at another time, or with different provisions, or by the authority of one who did not give authority; or

(2) falsely endorses or alters a check so that it purports to have been endorsed by another.

Subd. 3.Offering forged check; elements.

A person who, with intent to defraud, offers, or possesses with intent to offer, a forged check, whether or not it is accepted, is guilty of offering a forged check and may be sentenced as provided in subdivision 4.

Subd. 4.Sentencing.

A person who is convicted under subdivision 2 or 3 may be sentenced as follows:

(1) to imprisonment for not more than 20 years or to payment of a fine of not more than $100,000, or both, if the forged check or checks are used to obtain or in an attempt to obtain, property or services of more than $35,000 or the aggregate amount of the forged check or checks is more than $35,000;

(2) to imprisonment for not more than ten years or to payment of a fine of not more than $20,000, or both, if the forged check or checks are used to obtain or in an attempt to obtain, property or services of more than $2,500 or the aggregate amount of the forged check or checks is more than $2,500;

(3) to imprisonment for not more than five years or to payment of a fine of not more than $10,000, or both, if:

(a) the forged check or checks are used to obtain or in an attempt to obtain, property or services of more than $250 but not more than $2,500, or the aggregate face amount of the forged check or checks is more than $250 but not more than $2,500; or

(b) the forged check or checks are used to obtain or in an attempt to obtain, property or services of no more than $250, or have an aggregate face value of no more than $250, and the person has been convicted within the preceding five years for an offense under this section, section 609.24; 609.245; 609.247; 609.52; 609.53; 609.582, subdivision 1, 2, or 3; 609.625; 609.63; or 609.821, or a statute from another state in conformity with any of those sections, and the person received a felony or gross misdemeanor sentence for the offense, or a sentence that was stayed under section 609.135 if the offense to which a plea was entered would allow imposition of a felony or gross misdemeanor sentence; and

(4) to imprisonment for not more than 364 days or to payment of a fine of not more than $3,000, or both, if the forged check or checks are used to obtain or in an attempt to obtain, property or services of no more than $250, or the aggregate face amount of the forged check or checks is no more than $250.

In any prosecution under this subdivision, the value of the checks forged or offered by the defendant in violation of this subdivision within any six-month period may be aggregated and the defendant charged accordingly in applying the provisions of this section. When two or more offenses are committed by the same person in two or more counties, the accused may be prosecuted in any county in which one of the checks was forged or offered for all of the offenses aggregated under this paragraph.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 15 cases (3 in the last 5 years), 1999–2025 · leading case: State v. Jones, 772 N.W.2d 496 (Minn. 2009).
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State v. Jones, 772 N.W.2d 496 (Minn. 2009). · cites it 8× “On February 16, 2007, a Scott County jury found appellant Don Antoine Jones guilty of three felonies: check forgery (greater than $2,500), Minn.Stat. § 609.631, subds. 2, 4(2) (2008); offering a forged check (greater than $2,500), Minn.”
Vickla v. State, 793 N.W.2d 265 (Minn. 2011). · cites it 4× “In an amended complaint, Vickla was charged in Dakota County District Court with offering forged checks in an aggregate amount greater than $35,000, in violation of Minn.Stat. § 609.631, subds. 3 and 4(1) (2010); possession of counterfeit checks, in violation of Minn.”
State v. Cox, 798 N.W.2d 517 (Minn. 2011). · cites it 2× “A false representation includes “the issuance of a check, draft, or order for the payment of money, except a forged check as defined in section 609.631, or the delivery of property knowing that the actor is not entitled to draw upon the drawee therefor or to order the payment or…”
Vickla v. State, 778 N.W.2d 354 (Minn. Ct. App. 2010). · cites it 8× “2 (2004) (count two), and offering a forged check or ■ checks in violation of Minn.Stat. § 609.631 (2004) (count three).”
State v. Maddox, 825 N.W.2d 140 (Minn. Ct. App. 2013). · cites it 4× “FACTS This appeal involves allegations of criminal conduct in two district court files: # 70-CR-11-19238 in which respondent State of Minnesota charged appellant Harry Maddox with two felony counts of check forgery under Minn.Stat. § 609.631, subd. 2 (2002), and one count of…”
In re Disciplinary Action Against Swokowski, 796 N.W.2d 317 (Minn. 2011). · cites it 2× “” Under Minn.Stat. § 609.631, subd. 2(2) (2010), a person commits a criminal act when he “falsely endorses or alters a check so that it purports to have been endorsed by another.”
State v. Rewitzer, 617 N.W.2d 407 (Minn. 2000). · cites it 2× “615 (1996) ($10,000 maximum fine); Check Forgery — $200-$2,500, Minn.Stat. § 609.631, subd. 4(3)(a) (1996) ($10,000 fine).”
Strange v. 1997 Jeep Cherokee, New Mexico Lic. 630-KLD, VIN 1J4FJ2881VL502086, 597 N.W.2d 355 (Minn. Ct. App. 1999). “Stat. § 609.531, subd. 5 (1996). Here, appellant’s vehicle was confiscated on June 3, 1998.”
Denis Alcivar Alvarado-Riera v. State of Minnesota (Minn. Ct. App. 2017). · cites it 6× “Alvarado-Riera cites no case defining felony check forgery under Minn. Stat. § 609.631 (2012) as a CIMT.2 But felony check forgery seems to be a CIMT under both Supreme Court and Eighth Circuit caselaw because felony check forgery under Minnesota law requires a specific intent…”
Joel Armen Underwood, III v. State of Minnesota (Minn. 2025). · cites it 2× “5 The State also charged Underwood with offering a forged check, Minn. Stat. § 609.631 , subd. 3 (2024), and fifth-degree controlled substance possession, Minn.”
State of Minnesota v. Drew Douglas Wiskow Davis (Minn. Ct. App. 2024). · cites it 2× “1 (2020); and check forgery in violation of Minn. Stat. § 609.631 , subd. 3 (2020). Davis filed a pretrial motion to suppress all evidence obtained from his encounter with law enforcement, claiming the officer seized him without a reasonable, articulable suspicion of criminal…”
State of Minnesota v. Issac Semaj Coley (Minn. Ct. App. 2024). · cites it 2× “In March 2022, the state charged Coley in Winona County with three offenses, including one count of offering a forged check, in violation of Minn. Stat. § 609.631 , subd. 3 (2020). The state alleged that Coley stole a purse containing a checkbook, wrote a check to himself in the…”
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