US Laws, Codes, Statutes & Cases

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[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 18USC497]

 
                 TITLE 18--CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
 
                             PART I--CRIMES
 
                 CHAPTER 25--COUNTERFEITING AND FORGERY
 
Sec. 497. Letters patent

    Whoever falsely makes, forges, counterfeits, or alters any letters 
patent granted or purporting to have been granted by the President of 
the United States; or
    Whoever passes, utters, or publishes, or attempts to pass, utter, or 
publish as genuine, any such letters patent, knowing the same to be 
forged, counterfeited or falsely altered--
    Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten 
years, or both.

(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 712; Pub. L. 103-322, title XXXIII, 
Sec. 330016(1)(K), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.)


                      Historical and Revision Notes

    Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Sec. 71 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, 
Sec. 27, 35 Stat. 1094).
    Mandatory punishment provision was rephrased in the alternative.
    Changes were made in phraseology.


                               Amendments

    1994--Pub. L. 103-322 substituted ``fined under this title'' for 
``fined not more than $5,000''.