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

Summary

It is illegal to make, pass along, or have a fake or forged state, local, or organization security if you mean to trick someone. It is also illegal to make, buy, sell, or keep tools made for making fake or forged securities when you intend them to be used that way. The crime can be punished by a fine, by up to 10 years in prison, or both. Counterfeited: a paper that pretends to be real but was entirely made to look like the real thing. Forged: a paper that started real but was falsely changed, completed, signed, or joined with parts of others. Security: many kinds of financial or ownership papers (for example, notes, stock or bond certificates, checks, money orders, receipts, bills of lading, certificates or options to buy, and blank forms of these). Organization: a non-government legal group (like a corporation, partnership, union, or foundation). State: any U.S. state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, and other U.S. territories or possessions.

Title 18, §513

Crimes and Criminal Procedure — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Whoever makes, utters or possesses a counterfeited security of a State or a political subdivision thereof or of an organization, or whoever makes, utters or possesses a forged security of a State or political subdivision thereof or of an organization, with intent to deceive another person, organization, or government shall be fined under this title 11 See 1994 Amendment note below. or imprisoned for not more than ten years, or both.

(b)Whoever makes, receives, possesses, sells or otherwise transfers an implement designed for or particularly suited for making a counterfeit or forged security with the intent that it be so used shall be punished by a fine under this title or by imprisonment for not more than ten years, or both.

(c)For purposes of this section—

(1)the term “counterfeited” means a document that purports to be genuine but is not, because it has been falsely made or manufactured in its entirety;

(2)the term “forged” means a document that purports to be genuine but is not because it has been falsely altered, completed, signed, or endorsed, or contains a false addition thereto or insertion therein, or is a combination of parts of two or more genuine documents;

(3)the term “security” means—

(A)a note, stock certificate, treasury stock certificate, bond, treasury bond, debenture, certificate of deposit, interest coupon, bill, check, draft, warrant, debit instrument as defined in section 916(c) 22 See References in Text note below. of the Electronic Fund Transfer Act, money order, traveler’s check, letter of credit, warehouse receipt, negotiable bill of lading, evidence of indebtedness, certificate of interest in or participation in any profit-sharing agreement, collateral-trust certificate, pre-reorganization certificate of subscription, transferable share, investment contract, voting trust certificate, or certificate of interest in tangible or intangible property;

(B)an instrument evidencing ownership of goods, wares, or merchandise;

(C)any other written instrument commonly known as a security;

(D)a certificate of interest in, certificate of participation in, certificate for, receipt for, or warrant or option or other right to subscribe to or purchase, any of the foregoing; or

(E)a blank form of any of the foregoing;

(4)the term “organization” means a legal entity, other than a government, established or organized for any purpose, and includes a corporation, company, association, firm, partnership, joint stock company, foundation, institution, society, union, or any other association of persons which operates in or the activities of which affect interstate or foreign commerce; and

(5)the term “State” includes a State of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, and any other territory or possession of the United States.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

section 916 of the Electronic Fund Transfer Act, referred to in subsec. (c)(3)(A), was renumbered section 917 by Pub. L. 111–24, title IV, § 401(1), May 22, 2009, 123 Stat. 1751, and is classified to section 1693n of Title 15, Commerce and Trade.

Amendments

1994—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 103–322, § 330016(2)(C), which directed the amendment of this section by substituting “under this title” for “of not more than $250,000”, was executed by making the substitution for “not more than $250,000”, to reflect the probable intent of Congress. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 103–322, § 330016(2)(C), substituted “fine under this title” for “fine of not more than $250,000”. Subsec. (c)(4). Pub. L. 103–322, § 330008(1), substituted “association of persons” for “association or persons”. 1990—Subsec. (c)(3)(A). Pub. L. 101–647 struck out “(15 U.S.C. 1693(c))” after “Electronic Fund Transfer Act” and inserted comma after “profit-sharing agreement”.

§513 Securities of the States and Private Entities