Paul Jason “Jake” York, a former attorney from Cornelia, Georgia, was arrested on August 4, 2025, facing multiple felony charges related to forgery and identity fraud, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI).
York, 46, was booked into the Habersham County Jail following a months-long GBI investigation into suspected fraudulent court documents. This arrest marks a continuation of legal troubles for York, who was previously arrested in 2020 for forging signatures of Mountain Judicial Circuit Assistant District Attorney Meredith Davis and Superior Court Judge Chan Caudell. At that time, he was charged with two counts of first-degree forgery and knowingly filing false documents.
Despite being referred to as a “former” attorney by the GBI, State Bar of Georgia records indicate York still holds an active law license and is listed as a member in “good standing.”
The new charges against York include 10 counts of first-degree forgery, four counts of identity fraud, two counts of unauthorized practice of law, and two counts of theft by deception. Investigators say York violated a pre-trial diversion agreement that barred him from practicing law when the latest alleged offenses occurred.
The Mountain Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office had requested the GBI’s involvement on February 18 to investigate the forgery allegations. The ongoing investigation is expected to conclude soon, after which the case will be handed over to prosecutors for further action.
