Under New York Law, a "forged instrument" means a written instrument which has been falsely made, completed or altered. A relatively "easy" way to have a basic understanding of Second Degree Forgery in New York is to first examine Forgery in the Third Degree.Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Third Degree is a Class A misdemeanor. Forgery is a white collar criminal offense that involves creating a false written document with the intent to defraud. Criminal possession of a forged instrument is a legal charge that falls under the broader category of forgery and fraud offenses. Forgery in the first degree is a class C felony involving the forging of money, stamps, securities, and other government-issued instruments. A FORGED INSTRUMENT means a written instrument which has been falsely made, completed or altered.