Federal Counterfeiting Crimes Under 18 U.S.C. § 470
Federal counterfeiting crimes covers a wide variety of criminal charges involving the duplication of official documents, currency, and obligations of the United States or other foreign countries, and the use of these forged and counterfeited documents to defraud. Federal counterfeiting crimes set out in the United States Criminal Code, Title 18 of the United States Code. The United States code makes it a crime to make, deal in, or possess counterfeit money, or other obligations of the United States. The statute encompasses counterfeit money as well as counterfeit stamps, the official seals, and securities.
The federal statute concerning federal counterfeiting crimes also addresses the possession and use of instruments and equipment used to make counterfeit money, documents, or obligations. The statute makes it a federal crime to possess, use, or sell equipment used in making counterfeits. The statute also makes it a federal crime to transact business with counterfeit money or documents. Under the statute a person knowingly and with the intent to defraud passes puts off or uses counterfeits and payment for negotiation it is a federal crime.
Under 18 U.S.C. § 471, if a person, with the intent to defraud, falsely makes, forges, counterfeits, or alters any obligation or other security of the United States, including U. S. currency, they can be charged with a federal criminal charge and face imprisonment for up to 20 years.
The federal counterfeiting crimes statute also addresses making counterfeits of the wide variety of other official documents including military passes, money orders, contractors bids bonds, public records, powers of attorney, deeds, patent letters, military discharge papers, postage stamps, and the seals of any department or agency of the United States government.
Bradford Ladner, LLP. is a Birmingham Alabama law firm with over 30 years of experience handling federal criminal matters and all federal courts in Alabama. If you are facing federal investigation, potential federal charges, or, if you have been charged in federal court, the assistance of an experienced federal criminal lawyer is crucial to obtaining positive result in your federal case. Please call Branford Ladner, LLP. for a free consultation regarding your federal case.
