State Prison Inmate Charged With Forging A Federal Judge’s Signature

PITTSBURGH - An inmate at SCI-Houtzdale, located in Houtzdale, Pa., has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of violating federal law, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.

The one-count indictment, returned on April 29, named Michael Kramer, 30, currently incarcerated in SCI-Houtzdale.

According to the indictment, Kramer forged a federal Judge’s signature on a court order.

The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not more than five years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, of the defendant.

Assistant United States Attorney Barbara K. Doolittle is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The United States Marshal’s Service conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.

An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.