18 U.S.C. § 501 – Counterfeiting Postage Stamps, Meter Stamps, or Postal Cards
This law makes it a federal crime to forge, counterfeit, unlawfully print, or fraudulently deal in postage stamps, meter stamps, stamped envelopes, or postal cards.
This statute targets fraud involving postage stamps, postage meter stamps, stamped envelopes, and postal cards issued by or under the authority of the United States Postal Service.
It applies to the creation of counterfeit postal items, unauthorized printing of genuine postal indicia, and the knowing use, sale, possession, or distribution of such items or related materials.
What the law prohibits.
A person violates this statute if they knowingly and with intent to defraud:
- Forge or counterfeit any postage stamp, postage meter stamp, stamped envelope, postal card, or any die, plate, or engraving used to produce them
- Make or print, or knowingly use, sell, or possess with intent to use or sell, any forged or counterfeited postage stamp, postage meter stamp, stamped envelope, postal card, die, plate, or engraving
- Make, use, sell, or possess with intent to use or sell any paper bearing the watermark of a stamped envelope or postal card, or any fraudulent imitation of such paper
- Make, print, or authorize the making or printing of any postage stamp, postage meter stamp, stamped envelope, or postal card of the kind authorized by the Postal Service without its special authority and direction
- Deliver any such postage stamp, postage meter stamp, stamped envelope, or postal card, after printing and with intent to defraud, to a person not authorized in writing by the Postmaster General or the Postal Service to receive it
Penalties.
A person convicted under this statute shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.
If you’re being investigated or charged under a federal postage counterfeiting statute, call (314) 900-HELP or contact our criminal defense attorneys to discuss your options.
