Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-73
§21 Stolen or counterfeit nature of property for certain crimes defined
Title 18 › Part PART I— - CRIMES › Chapter CHAPTER 1— - GENERAL PROVISIONS › § 21
Summary
When a crime requires property be stolen, forged, or counterfeited, proof must show the property was handled that way and that the defendant knew it. Official representation is a federal officer's or approved agent's statement.
Full Legal Text
Title 18, §21
Crimes and Criminal Procedure — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)Wherever in this title it is an element of an offense that—
(1)any property was embezzled, robbed, stolen, converted, taken, altered, counterfeited, falsely made, forged, or obliterated; and
(2)the defendant knew that the property was of such character;
(b)For purposes of this section, the term “official representation” means any representation made by a Federal law enforcement officer (as defined in section 115) or by another person at the direction or with the approval of such an officer.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
18 U.S.C. § 21
Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73