You just happened to carry counterfeit money with you. That is considered possessing forgery writing, which is also a third-degree felony.The felony forgery statute is written very broadly to criminals, not just the classical forging of another's signature. Section 472:- Making or possessing counterfeit seal, etc. , with intent to commit forgery punishable under section 467. Forging a signature is already a criminal offence. So it cannot be lawful or legal — because doctrinally it contains criminal intent. Forgery is a type of fraud, which means that the level of punishment depends on what was stolen and how much it cost.