CHAPTER 514

FORGERY AND RELATED CRIMES

514.01                         Forgery

Subdivision 1. Any Indian who, with the intent to injure or defraud, does any of the following is guilty of forgery which is a gross misdemeanor:

      a)              Falsely makes or alters a writing or possesses a falsely made or altered writing; or

      b)              Falsely makes or alters a writing or object whereby when genuine, legal rights, privileges or obligations are created, terminated, transferred or so falsifies or alters any writing normally relied upon as evidence of a debt or property rights; or

      c)              Falsely makes or alters the records, accounts, or other documents relating to a person, corporation or business; or

      d)              Destroys a writing or object to prevent it from being produced at a trial, hearing, or other proceeding authorized by law.

514.02            Issuing Bad Checks

Any Indian who issues any checks, draft, or order upon any bank or other depository knowing that there are not sufficient funds in the defendant's account to pay such check, draft, or order in full upon presentation is guilty of an offense punishable as follows:

      a)              If the amount involved is $100.00 or less, the offense shall be punishable as a misdemeanor and if the amount involved is $100.00 or more, the offense shall be punishable as a gross misdemeanor.

      b)              If the Indian is convicted of drawing a check, draft or order upon a bank or other depository when he knows that the account is closed, the offense shall be punishable as a gross misdemeanor.

514.03                         Obtaining Signature By False Pretenses

Any Indian who, by a false pretense, obtains the signature of another to a writing which is the subject of a forgery in Section 514.01 is guilty of a misdemeanor.

514.04                         Fraudulent Statements

Any Indian who, with intent to injure or defraud, does any of the following is guilty of a misdemeanor:

      a)              Issues false weights or measures; or

      b)              Makes a false common carrier's manifest, invoice or register.