18 U.S.C. § 477: Possessing or selling…

Summary

Having or controlling, without permission from the U.S. government, any stamp, imprint, or image (analog or digital) made from a tool or device used for the purposes listed in section 476 — or selling or giving such items to someone else — is a crime if done with the intent to cheat or deceive. The penalty can be a fine, up to 25 years in prison, or both.

Title 18, §477

Crimes and Criminal Procedure, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

Whoever, with intent to defraud, possesses, keeps, safeguards, or controls, without authority from the United States, any imprint, stamp, analog, digital, or electronic image, or impression, taken or made upon any substance or material whatsoever, of any tool, implement, instrument or thing, used, fitted or intended to be used, for any of the purposes mentioned in section 476 of this title; or Whoever, with intent to defraud, sells, gives, or delivers any such imprint, stamp, analog, digital, or electronic image, or impression to any other person— 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., § 267 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, § 153, 35 Stat. 1117). Changes in phraseology were made.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

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

§477 Possessing or Selling Impressions of Tools Used for Obligations or Securities