18 U.S.C. § 510 – Forging Endorsements on U.S. Treasury Checks or Securities
This law makes it a federal crime to forge endorsements on U.S. Treasury checks, bonds, or securities, or to knowingly deal in such instruments bearing forged endorsements.
This statute targets fraud involving Treasury checks, bonds, and securities issued by the United States.
It applies to forging endorsements or signatures, passing or attempting to pass such instruments, and knowingly buying, selling, receiving, or concealing Treasury instruments that are stolen or bear forged endorsements.
What the law prohibits.
A person violates this statute if they knowingly and with intent to defraud:
- Falsely make or forge any endorsement or signature on a Treasury check, bond, or security of the United States
- Pass, utter, publish, or attempt to pass, utter, or publish any Treasury check, bond, or security of the United States bearing a falsely made or forged endorsement or signature
A person also violates this statute if they knowingly:
- Buy, sell, exchange, receive, deliver, retain, or conceal any Treasury check, bond, or security of the United States knowing it to be stolen or to bear a falsely made or forged endorsement or signature
Penalties.
A person convicted under this statute shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both.
If the face value of the Treasury check, bond, or security of the United States, or the aggregate face value if more than one such instrument, does not exceed $1,000, the penalty shall be a fine under this title or imprisonment for not more than one year, or both.
If you’re being investigated or charged under a federal Treasury instrument forgery statute, call (314) 900-HELP or contact our criminal defense attorneys to discuss your defense.
