18 U.S.C. § 476: Taking impressions of tools…

Summary

It is a crime to, without the United States’ permission, make, take, or copy an impression, stamp, or image — including analog, digital, or electronic copies — of any tool or device used to print or stamp U.S. obligations or other government securities, or used to make those tools. A person convicted can be fined under federal law, imprisoned for not more than 25 years, or both.

Title 18, §476

Crimes and Criminal Procedure, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

Whoever, without authority from the United States, takes, procures, or makes an impression, stamp, analog, digital, or electronic image, or imprint of, from or by the use of any tool, implement, instrument, or thing used or fitted or intended to be used in printing, stamping, or impressing, or in making other tools, implements, instruments, or things to be used or fitted or intended to be used in printing, stamping, or impressing any obligation or other security of the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 25 years, or both.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 266 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, § 152, 35 Stat. 1117). Enumeration of substances on which impressions could be made and enumeration of various kinds of tools to be used were omitted as unnecessary. Reference to circulating note or evidence of debt was omitted in view of definition of obligations and securities in section 8 of this title. Changes in phraseology were also made.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2001—Pub. L. 107–56 inserted “analog, digital, or electronic image,” after “impression, stamp,” and substituted “25 years” for “ten years”. 1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $5,000”.

§476 Taking Impressions of Tools Used for Obligations or Securities