Metro

JOHNSTOWN — A former Hollidaysburg attorney accused of twice forging a federal judge’s signature on court orders in 2022 admitted Friday that he’s guilty, thereby giving up his right to challenge felony charges for a to-be-determined sentence.

Michael B. Cohen, 41, who lost his law license in April 2023 when he was disbarred with consent, told District Judge Stephanie Haines that he was entering guilty pleas to both forgery counts.

Cohen, who previously entered not guilty pleas in U.S. District Court, assured Haines that he was giving up his right to challenge the charges and to put the case before a jury.

In exchange for the guilty pleas, Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Gurzo told Haines that his office agreed to a two-level downward adjustment to the sentencing guidelines applicable in Cohen’s case. That could translate into a lesser sentence for Cohen, but the final decision rests with Haines.

Gurzo declined after court concluded to offer insight as to how the downward adjustment will affect Cohen’s sentence or to the sentence he’ll recommend.

Defense attorney Dan Kiss said he intends to make a case for a probationary sentence.

Haines, who scheduled Cohen’s sentencing hearing for Nov. 18, directed the U.S. Probation Office to complete a pre-sentence investigation and told Cohen that it would be in his best interest to cooperate.

Based on information presented in court, Gurzo said the felony counts filed against Cohen accuse him, on May 18, 2022, of sending an email to a client with an attached court document falsely recognizing the resolution of a civil case and awarding $10,000 in sanctions and legal fees. The document bore the false signature of Matthew Brann, chief judge of the Middle District of Pennsylvania.

Gurzo said the second forgery occurred Oct. 13, 2022, when Cohen sent an email to a client advising her of the resolution of a civil case involving a health care provider.

The email was accompanied by a letter — with Brann’s false signature — indicating that a resolution was reached with a $10,000 settlement in the client’s favor.

Cohen, who also has theft, forgery and records tampering and related charges pending in Blair and Bedford counties, explained his behavior to investigating Logan Township police officers by referring to mental health problems.

In a criminal complaint, police officers said Cohen told them that in 2022, he started feeling as though he was losing his mind and stopped going to work. Officers said he was advising clients that he would look into their matters or file something when he hadn’t. Officers said Cohen also spoke of how guilt had caused him to give away money held in escrow and his own money to clients who were told that he had resolved their cases.

When Haines quizzed Cohen about his work history, Cohen spoke of practicing law until April 2023. He said since fall 2023, he has been working as a marketing manager for a window and door replacement company.

Haines also acknowledged to Cohen that he has been free on bond. After Gurzo said he wasn’t asking for changes, Haines said current conditions would remain intact pending sentence.

Mirror Staff Writer Kay Stephens is at 814-946-7456.