Forgery crimes are classified as both felonies and misdemeanors in Pennsylvania, depending on the type of document or instrument involved. Pennsylvania classifies basic forgery as a misdemeanor of the first degree.However, such offense will be elevated to a felony of the third degree. The short answer is "Yes," it is a crime. The key to Pennsylvania's forgery statute is that there must be an "intent to defraud or injure." According to the Pennsylvania statutes, forgery is the act of reproducing any document, signature, banking note, or a work of art. It is illegal in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to forge money, government-issued documents, legal documents, and other types of writing.