New York Consolidated Laws

N.Y. Penal Law § 170.15 (2026)

Forgery in the first degree

✓ current as of May 2026

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§ 170.15 Forgery in the first degree.
  A person is guilty of forgery in the first degree when, with intent to
defraud, deceive or injure another, he falsely makes, completes or
alters a written instrument which is or purports to be, or which is
calculated to become or to represent if completed:
  1. Part of an issue of money, stamps, securities or other valuable
instruments issued by a government or governmental instrumentality; or
  2. Part of an issue of stock, bonds or other instruments representing
interests in or claims against a corporate or other organization or its
property.
  Forgery in the first degree is a class C felony.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 9 cases (2 in the last 5 years), 1998–2025 · leading case: People v. Bailey, 915 N.E.2d 611 (NY 2009).

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People v. Bailey, 915 N.E.2d 611 (NY 2009). · cites it 2× “NOTES [1] Penal Law § 170.15 provides in relevant part that "A person is guilty of forgery in the first degree when, with intent to defraud, deceive or injure another, he falsely makes, completes or alters a written instrument which is or purports to be, or which is calculated…”

Murcia v. Cnty. of Orange, 226 F. Supp. 2d 489 (S.D.N.Y. 2002). “N.Y. Penal Law § 170.15 (McKinney 1998) (forgery); N.”

People v. Reynoso-Fabian, 134 A.D.3d 1141 (N.Y. App. Div. 2015). “or other valuable instruments issued by a government” (Penal Law § 170.15 [1]; see People v Batson, 103 AD3d at 910 ).”

People v. Brousseau, 149 A.D.3d 1275 (N.Y. App. Div. 2017). “30; see Penal Law § 170.15; People v Bailey, 13 NY3d 67, 70 [2009]).”

Brevard v. Schunk (N.D.N.Y. 2020). “Under New York law, a “person is guilty of criminal possession of a forged instrument in the first degree when, with knowledge that it is forged and with intent to defraud, deceive or injure another, he utters or possesses any forged instrument of a kind specified in [ N.Y.…”

Glover v. Onondaga Cnty. Sheriff's Dep't (N.D.N.Y. 2024). “N.Y. PENAL LAW §§ 170.15 , 170.30. Before making the arrest, Deputy Albanese learned from Parisi, the asset protection officer, that two counterfeit twenty-dollar bills had been used by a woman to make a purchase.”

Glover v. Onondaga Cnty. Sheriff's Dept (2d Cir. 2025). “Here, Deputy Albanese had probable cause to arrest Glover for criminal possession of a forged instrument because prior to her arrest, he had watched surveillance video capturing a woman— whom Deputy Albanese later identified as Glover—using alleged counterfeit twenty-dollar…”

People v. McDonnell, 177 Misc. 2d 610 (N.Y. Sup. Ct. 1998). “15); forgery in the first degree (2 counts) (Penal Law § 170.15); forgery in the second degree (2 counts) (Penal Law § 170.”

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