CITE

    18 USC Sec. 497                                             01/05/2009

EXPCITE

    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".