§510 — Title 18 Crimes and Criminal Procedure | U.S. Code

Summary

It is a crime to, while trying to cheat someone, make or forge a signature or endorsement on a Treasury check, bond, or other U.S. security, or to pass along or try to pass one that has a forged endorsement. It is also a crime to buy, sell, trade, receive, keep, or hide such an item if you know it was stolen or forged. The punishment can be a fine, up to 10 years in prison, or both. If the total face value involved is $1,000 or less, the jail time is up to one year (or a fine, or both).

Title 18, §510

Crimes and Criminal Procedure — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Whoever, with intent to defraud—

(1)falsely makes or forges any endorsement or signature on a Treasury check or bond or security of the United States; or

(2)passes, utters, or publishes, or attempts to pass, utter, or publish, any Treasury check or bond or security of the United States bearing a falsely made or forged endorsement or signature;

(b)Whoever, with knowledge that such Treasury check or bond or security of the United States is stolen or bears a falsely made or forged endorsement or signature buys, sells, exchanges, receives, delivers, retains, or conceals any such Treasury check or bond or security of the United States shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both.

(c)If the face value of the Treasury check or bond or security of the United States or the aggregate face value, if more than one Treasury check or bond or security of the United States, does not exceed $1,000, in any of the above-mentioned offenses, the penalty shall be a fine under this title or imprisonment for not more than one year, or both.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2002—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 107–273 substituted “fine under this title” for “fine of under this title”. 1996—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 104–294, § 602(e), struck out “that in fact is stolen or bears a forged or falsely made endorsement or signature” after “bond or security of the United States”. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 104–294, § 606(b), substituted “$1,000” for “$500”. 1994—Subsecs. (a), (b). Pub. L. 103–322, § 330016(1)(L), substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $10,000”. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 103–322, § 330016(1)(H), substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $1,000”. 1990—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 101–647 inserted semicolon after “or signature” in par. (2) and moved provisions beginning with “shall be fined” flush with left margin.

§510 Forging Endorsements on Treasury Checks or Bonds or Securities of the United States

Summary

Title 18, §510

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Citations & Metadata