Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-73
§472 Uttering counterfeit obligations or securities
Title 18 › Part PART I— - CRIMES › Chapter CHAPTER 25— - COUNTERFEITING AND FORGERY › § 472
Summary
Intending fraud, anyone who makes or deals in fake U.S. government securities faces a fine, up to 20 years' prison, or both.
Full Legal Text
Title 18, §472
Crimes and Criminal Procedure — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Whoever, with intent to defraud, passes, utters, publishes, or sells, or attempts to pass, utter, publish, or sell, or with like intent brings into the United States or keeps in possession or conceals any falsely made, forged, counterfeited, or altered obligation or other security of the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 265 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, § 151, 35 Stat. 1116). Mandatory punishment provision was rephrased in the alternative. Changes in phraseology were made.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2001—Pub. L. 107–56 substituted “20 years” for “fifteen years”. 1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $5,000”.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
18 U.S.C. § 472
Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73