Apparently the punishment for forging a notarized document is pretty hefty:
Source:
https://www.criminaldefenselawyer.com/resources/forgery-laws-tennessee.htm
In Tennessee, the crime of forgery consists of forging any written item with the intent to defraud or harm another. Written items include any document but also coins, badges, credit cards, and seals.
Under Tennessee law, to forge means to:
- make, sign, or alter any written document by signing another person’s name, by altering the time or place of signature, or in order to pass off the writing as a copy of an original that does not exist
- make false entries in records or books
- use, present, or transfer a forged item (also known as “uttering” a forged instrument)
- possess a forged instrument with the intent to utter it.
Examples of forgery include:
- signing another person’s name on a check
- altering the amount on a check without permission
- cashing a forged check at a bank
- creating a fake deed or other real estate document
- altering a financial document such as a promissory note, and
- using a forged instrument or document to obtain or transfer property or money.
Intent to defraud or injure another means an intent to get money or property that was not intended for the offender, or take legal action that the offender is not authorized to do, such as transferring property. Injury refers to a loss of money or other legal or financial injury. For general information about forgery and fraud crimes, see
Forgery Laws and Penalties.
Classification and Penalties
Forgery crimes can be felonies or misdemeanors in Tennessee and are classified according to the value involved. For example, when a forgery crime involves no more than $500—a check for $250—the crime is a misdemeanor. The values, classification and possibly penalties are as follows:
- $500 or less – Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to 11 months and 20 days in jail or a fine up to $2,500, or both
- more than $500 but less than $1,000 – Class E felony punishable by 1 – 6 years in prison and a fine up to $3,000
- more than $1,000 but less than $10,000 – Class D felony punishable by 2 – 12 years in prison and a fine up to $5,000
- more than $10,000 but less than $60,000 – Class C felony punishable by 3 – 15 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000
- more than $60,000 but less than $250,000 – Class B felony punishable by 8 – 30 years in prison and a fine up to $25,000
- more than $250,000 – Class A felony punishable by 15 - 60 years in prison and a fine up to $50,000
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EDIT: so if he really cost Valor over 6K, he's in trouble lol
