Federal · Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal Procedure

18 U.S.C. § 510: Forging endorsements on Treasury checks or bonds or securities of the United States

Felony

What this law says, in plain English

Federal law criminalizes forging endorsements on U.S. Treasury checks, bonds, or securities, or knowingly handling such forged instruments. Penalties range up to 10 years imprisonment, or 1 year if the value is under $1,000.

Read the full statutory text
falsely makes or forges any endorsement or signature on a Treasury check or bond or security of the United States; or passes, utters, or publishes, or attempts to pass, utter, or publish, any Treasury check or bond or security of the United States bearing a falsely made or forged endorsement or signature; Whoever, with knowledge that such Treasury check or bond or security of the United States is stolen or bears a falsely made or forged endorsement or signature buys, sells, exchanges, receives, delivers, retains, or conceals any such Treasury check or bond or security of the United States shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both. If the face value of the Treasury check or bond or security of the United States or the aggregate face value, if more than one Treasury check or bond or security of the United States, does not exceed $1,000, in any of the above-mentioned offenses, the penalty shall be a fine under this title or imprisonment for not more than one year, or both.

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This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.