Charged with counterfeiting money or possession of counterfeit money in Toronto?
Counterfeit Money is any currency that is created without the sanctioning of legal authorities, generally duplicating legal tender, for the purpose of fraud, and the making, passing (uttering in legal terms) & possession of counterfeit money is a serious crime in Canada.
Whether legal tender or metal based coins, the Government of Canada takes counterfeiting currency very seriously. As a matter of fact, counterfeiting is one of the most serious crimes in Canada, having prison terms that exceed sexual assault & murder.
When an individual is charged with counterfeiting, it is generally preceded by an in-depth investigation by both local & federal agencies. Upon conviction, the consequences are often quite severe. If you have been charged or believe you may be under investigation for counterfeiting it is essential that you consult with a Toronto criminal defence lawyer as soon as possible for assistance. Our seasoned legal team has handled many counterfeiting charges and is well prepared to take a proactive approach to investigating the allegations against you.
Penalties for Making, Passing & Possessing Counterfeit Money in Toronto
Counterfeiting money carries serious penalties in Canada. Creating, passing & possession of counterfeit money can land you up to 14 years in prison. Although the maximum for passing fiat coins is 2 years, all of these offences will gain you a criminal record, making it difficult to travel abroad and obtain gainful employment. This will also inevitably affect your reputation and relationships with family and friends.
The Criminal Code of Canada States regarding Counterfeiting Money:
448 “counterfeit money” ¬monnaie contrefaite “counterfeit money” includes
(a) a false coin or false paper money that resembles or is apparently intended to resemble or pass for a current coin or current paper money,
(b) a forged bank-note or forged blank bank-note, whether complete or incomplete,
(c) a genuine coin or genuine paper money that is prepared or altered to resemble or pass for a current coin or current paper money of a higher denomination,
(d) a current coin from which the milling is removed by filing or cutting the edges and on which new milling is made to restore its appearance,
(e) a coin cased with gold, silver or nickel, as the case may be, that is intended to resemble or pass for a current gold, silver or nickel coin, and
(f) a coin or a piece of metal or mixed metals that is washed or coloured by any means with a wash or material capable of producing the appearance of gold, silver or nickel and that is intended to resemble or pass for a current gold, silver or nickel coin;
449 Making
449. Every one who makes or begins to make counterfeit money is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term not
exceeding fourteen years. R.S., c. C-34, s. 407.
450 Possession
450 Possession, etc., of counterfeit money
450. Every one who, without lawful justification or excuse, the proof of which lies on him,
(a) buys, receives or offers to buy or receive,
(b) has in his custody or possession, or
(c) introduces into Canada counterfeit money is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding fourteen years.
452 Uttering, etc., counterfeit money
452. Every one who, without lawful justification or excuse, the proof of which lies on him,
(a) utters or offers to utter counterfeit money or uses counterfeit money as if it were genuine, or
(b) exports, sends or takes counterfeit money out of Canada is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a
term not exceeding fourteen years. R.S., c. C-34, s. 410.
453 Uttering coin
453. Every one who, with intent to defraud, knowingly utters
(a) a coin that is not current, or (b) a piece of metal or mixed metals that resembles in size, figure or colour a current coin for which it is uttered,
is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years.
Have you been charged with or accused of making, passing or possessing counterfeit money?
We realize that your livelihood is at stake with the outcome of your trial. It is crucial that you retain a lawyer that is capable and experienced with having charges reduced or dropped. Your best defence will begin with a discussion with us of the events leading up to your arrest. We will investigate and build your case to project a lack of intent to commit currency fraud, and employ other strategies to help you attain the best possible outcome in your situation.
Our legal team of Bruce Karten & Stephen Hebscher have over 60+ years of experience in dealing with complex fraud cases involving the creation, passing & possession of counterfeit money cases in Toronto, and are well established to attain a successful outcome through an aggressive defence – call now to set up a confidential consultation to discuss your case. See what our other clients are saying about us. We can help you too!