A Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania lawyer has been sentenced to 15 months in federal prison for forging the signature of a United States District Judge, according to an announcement from First Assistant United States Attorney Troy Rivetti. The sentence was handed down by United States District Judge Stephanie L. Haines on November 18, 2025.
Michael Brandon Cohen, age 42, pleaded guilty earlier this year to two counts of forgery involving court documents. According to information presented in court, Cohen was licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania and the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania at the time of the offenses in 2022.
Cohen had been retained by a client to pursue a civil lawsuit against a healthcare company. He informed his client that he had filed suit on their behalf in federal court; however, no such lawsuit was ever filed.
On May 18 and October 13, 2022, Cohen sent his client fake court orders that appeared to be issued by the Chief United States District Judge for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. These documents awarded monetary sanctions and fees in favor of the client and bore what looked like the electronic signature of the Chief Judge. In reality, these orders were not authorized or issued by any judge—Cohen forged the signatures in an attempt to make them appear legitimate.
Assistant United States Attorneys Carl J. Spindler and Mark Gurzo prosecuted the case.
First Assistant United States Attorney Troy Rivetti stated: "I commend the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, and Blair County District Attorney’s Office for their support in the successful prosecution of Cohen."
