Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-73not60
§498 Military or Naval Discharge Certificates
Title 18 › Part I— CRIMES › Chapter 25— COUNTERFEITING AND FORGERY › § 498
Summary
Anyone who forges, counterfeits, or falsely changes a U.S. military or naval discharge certificate, or who knowingly uses, has, or shows such a fake certificate, can be punished. They may be fined under this law, jailed for up to one year, or both.
Full Legal Text
Title 18, §498
Crimes and Criminal Procedure — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Whoever forges, counterfeits, or falsely alters any certificate of discharge from the military or naval service of the United States, or uses, unlawfully possesses or exhibits any such certificate, knowing the same to be forged, counterfeited, or falsely altered, shall be fined under this title 11 See 1994 Amendment note below. or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940, ed., § 136 (Mar. 4, 1917, ch. 180, 39 Stat. 1182). Reference to any person causing, procuring, aiding or assisting was omitted as unnecessary as such persons are made principals by section 2 of this title. At the end of this section words “in the discretion of the court” were omitted as unnecessary, as the punishment provisions, being framed in the alternative by the use of the disjunctive “or,” vest in the court the power to impose a fine or prison sentence in its discretion. Changes in phraseology were made.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1994—Pub. L. 103–322, which directed the amendment of this section by substituting “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $5,000”, was executed by making the substitution for “fined not more than $1,000”, to reflect the probable intent of Congress.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
18 U.S.C. § 498
Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Last Updated
Apr 5, 2026
Release point: 119-73not60