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Client Testimonials
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THE BEST LAWYER ANYONE COULD ASK FOR.
The BEST LAWYER ANYONE COULD ASK FOR!!! Todd changed our lives! He’s not JUST a lawyer representing us for a case. Todd and his office have become Family. When we entered his office in August of 2022, we entered with such anxiety, uncertainty, and so much stress. Honestly we were very lost. My husband and I felt alone. How could a lawyer who didn’t know us, know our family, know our background represents us, When this could change our lives for the next 5-7years that my husband was facing in Federal jail. By the time our free consultation was over with Todd, we left his office at ease. All our questions were answered and we had a sense of relief.
In this post we’re going to extrapolate on charges involving false written documents in the New York penal code. But before we get into that, let’s first define some of the terms involved.
Definitions of terms.
When we say enterprise, we mean an entity of one or more people who are engaged in business, political, or some other kind of activity.
Business record is any writing or article that’s maintained by an enterprise to reflect on its condition or activity.
A written instrument is an instrument or article, including data or a program that contains some sort of printed matter used for recording information that can be used for the advantage or disadvantage of someone.
Falsifying business records in the second degree.
Now that we’ve gotten the definitions out of the way, let’s get into the charges. You’re guilty of falsifying business records in the second degree when you make or cause a false entry in the business records of an enterprise, or alter or destroy a true entry of an enterprise, or omit a true entry in the business records, or prevent the making of a true entry or cause the omission of it. This crime is punishable as a class A misdemeanor.
Falsifying business records in the first degree.
The first degree of this crime is when you commit the preceding crime and your intent to defraud includes also an intent to commit another crime, or else conceal a crime. This charge is a class E felony.
Falsifying business records; defense.
Keep in mind that it is an affirmative defense if you’re a clerk, bookkeeper or other employee who executed your employer’s orders.
If you are looking for a lawyer that listens, is aggressive where needed, and holds his word above all else, Todd is the best pick. I had hired multiple attorneys prior to hiring the Spodek Group for a white collar case. The first thing that stood out to me was the cost, as anyone going through the process and dealing with the system, money was tight at that time - especially after hiring and firing multiple lawyers. The cost was not as high as others which was definitely a plus. Todd's intake process was also unlike other attorneys. He took the time to actually listen. He cared. He was trying to put himself in my shoes while I was explaining the situation to him and he really took the time to understand the whole situation. Other lawyers will give you 15 mins and send you a retainer agreement. Not Todd, I think he spent almost two hours with me as I was explaining everything.Not only was he great during the onboarding process, he was supportive and very informative through the entire plea process and eventually sentencing. After hiring him, I asked if I should hire a prison consultant, he told me to save my money as he would do everything they would. He was right and held up to his word. Later on I would hear from others that went with the prison consultants that they were a waste of money - I am glad I listened to Todd!When it came time for sentencing, two days prior to sentencing, the prosecutor tried increasing my proposed prison time by almost double - apparently a normal move. Todd and his team worked with me non-stop through the weekend prior to sentencing to ensure that I was not given additional prison time. Again, he took the time to listen and came up with a strategy to explain the case with great detail.Unfortunately, I did plead guilty as that was my best option. Todd and his whole team wrote up nearly 300 pages of a summary of what happened and why I should not be given prison time. If I breakdown the amount I spent with Todd versus the amount of work that I saw being done, I am shocked I was not charged four times as much. The other benefit was, a lot of criminal defense lawyers were just a single attorney with a paralegal or two. Todd had a team of people that I dealt with (5-7 people that I interacted with), but he was ALWAYS accessible. It would never take him more than an hour to reply unless he was in court.I was sentenced to prison and I was emotionally distraught. Todd and his team did whatever they could even after sentencing to make sure I was alright. He personally stayed in touch with my family to ensure I was doing alright and offered support to them. Most lawyers would consider the job complete at sentencing, not Todd.After prison, Todd still spent time with me to make sure I was on the right track and avoiding any potential risks in the future. He has also been giving advice on how to navigate probation etc and has not been looking at the clock for billing.Although I wish I had never been arrested in the first place, I am glad I had Todd and his team in my corner. Without them I likely would have had to spend a lot more time in prison than I did.Thank you, Todd, and the entire Spodek Law team, for helping turn what was a nightmare into a manageable situation!
I am immensely grateful to the entire team at Spodek Law Group for their unwavering dedication and exceptional expertise throughout my case. From our initial consultation to the final resolution, their professionalism and tireless advocacy made all the difference. Their strategic approach and attention to detail instilled confidence in me every step of the way.Thanks to their hard work and commitment, we achieved a truly favorable outcome that exceeded my expectations. Not only did they navigate the complexities of my case with precision, but they also provided invaluable support and guidance during what was undoubtedly a challenging time. I cannot recommend Spodek Law Group highly enough, especially attorneys Todd Spodek and Claire Banks; they are beacons of excellence in the legal profession.YSP.
Todd, Ralph and Alex are amazing. Helped my husband get from a double digit number with multiple charges to a single digit, by the time I blink he will be out. They very professional and help with all your needs. They dealt with my anxiety and worry very well and they understand that your family member needs to get home as soon as possible.
Believe every single review here about Alex Z!! From our initial consultation, it was evident that Alex possessed a profound understanding of criminal law and a fierce dedication to his clients rights. Throughout the entirety of my case, Alex exhibited unparalleled professionalism and unwavering commitment. What sets Alex apart is not only his legal expertise but also his genuine compassion for his clients. He took the time to thoroughly explain my case, alleviating any concerns I had along the way. His exact words were “I’m not worried about it”. His unwavering support and guidance were invaluable throughout the entire process. I am immensely grateful for Alex's exceptional legal representation and wholeheartedly recommend his services to anyone in need of a skilled criminal defense attorney. Alex Z is not just a lawyer; he is a beacon of hope for those navigating the complexities of the legal system. If you find yourself in need of a dedicated and competent legal advocate, look no further than Alex Z.
I don’t know where to start, I can write a novel about this firm, but one thing I will say is that having my best interest was their main priority since the beginning of my case which was back in Winter 2019. Miss Claire Banks, one of the best Attorneys in the firm represented me very well and was very professional, respectful, and truthful. Not once did she leave me in the dark, in fact she presented all options and routes that could possibly be considered for my case and she reinsured me that no matter what I decided to do, her and the team will have my back and that’s exactly what happened. Not only will I be liberated from this case, also, I will enjoy my freedom and continue to be a mother to my first born son and will have no restrictions with accomplishing my goals in life. Now that’s what I call victory!! I thank the Lord, My mother, Claire, and the Spodek team for standing by me and fighting with me. Words can’t describe how grateful I am to have the opportunity to work with this team. I’m very satisfied, very pleased with their performance, their hard work, and their diligence.Thank you team!
I recently had Spodek Law Group represent me for a legal matter in NYC and I am thoroughly impressed with their services.Alex Zhik secured the best possible outcome for my case.It was a seamless journey from the initial consultation to the resolution of my legal matter. From the moment I spoke to Todd about my case, his enthusiasm to help was evident, setting a positive tone for the entire experience. The efficiency and professionalism displayed by the team is commendable.A particularly noteworthy aspect of their service is their user-friendly portal to upload your documents/evidence. This not only simplified the process, but showcases their commitment to streamline the client experience.Lastly, in an industry where legal fees can often be a concern, I found their pricing to be very reasonable, making needing legal assistance feel accessible and stress-free.I am grateful for their support and wouldn't hesitate to turn to them again in the future.
Tampering with public records in the second degree.
You’re guilty of this crime when you knowingly remove, mutilate, destroy, or otherwise make a false entry in order to knowingly tamper with the records. This crime is a class A misdemeanor.
Tampering with public records in the first degree.
This charge is the same as the preceding, but involves knowingly tampering with the records of a public servant. This one is a class D felony.
Offering a false instrument for filing in the second degree.
To be guilty of this you’d have to register or record a written instrument that you know contains a false statement or false information. This charge is punished as a class A misdemeanor.
Offering a false instrument for filing in the first degree.
This is similar to the previous charge, but with the addition that you have the intention to defraud the state or any political subdivision and then offer this to some sort of public servant with the knowledge or else the belief that it’ll be filed with or become part of the records of someone in public office, or if you commit this crime in the second degree and then the instrument involved is a financing statement that’s covered under certain sections of the law. Committing this crime will land you a class E felony.
Issuing a false certificate.
You’re guilty of this crime when you’re a public servant and you issue this kind of instrument with the intention of defrauding someone. This is punishable as a class E felony.
Issuing a false financial statement.
Lastly we come to issuing a false financial statement. You’re guilty of this when you knowingly make a written instrument that purports to describe the financial condition of someone and it’s inaccurate, or if you represent that a written instrument is accurate to someone’s financial condition, whereas you know that it’s inaccurate. This crime is punishable as a class A misdemeanor.
As you can see that wasn’t quite so difficult as you might’ve thought it was going to be. When you take the complicated letter of the law and simplify it down to terms that make more sense in conversational language, the problem of describing the law becomes negligible. We hope that this post helped you to better understand the state of New York’s penal law, and we hope you’ll stay tuned for more posts to come.
