TITLE 18 - CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
PART I - CRIMES
CHAPTER 25 - COUNTERFEITING AND FORGERY
HEAD
Sec. 497. Letters patent
STATUTE
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.
SOURCE
(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".
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