18 U.S.C. § 497

§497. Letters patent

Edition 2024

U.S.C. Title 18 - CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
18 U.S.C.

United States Code, 2024 Edition

Title 18 - CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE

PART I - CRIMES

CHAPTER 25 - COUNTERFEITING AND FORGERY

Sec. 497 - Letters patent

From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov

§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, §330016(1)(K), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.)

Historical and Revision Notes
Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., §71 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, §27, 35 Stat. 1094).

Mandatory punishment provision was rephrased in the alternative.

Changes were made in phraseology.

Editorial Notes

Amendments
1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted "fined under this title" for "fined not more than $5,000".

Official source