Restitution can also be ordered of the convicted forgery defendant. Penalties for Forgery in Illinois.The punishment is a maximum of one year in prison or three years probation. The case of cheating and forgery also can be filed before concerned Chief Judicial Magistrate Court for punitive action. An accused person can face hefty fines, imprisonment for up to 15 years in a federal prison, or both. Up to five years for falsification of an official document snd, if you use it, another five years for criminal fraud.