18 U.S.C. § 514 – Issuing or Passing Fictitious Financial Instruments
This law makes it a federal crime to create, use, possess, or transmit fictitious financial instruments that purport to be genuine securities or obligations.
This statute targets schemes involving false or fictitious instruments that appear to be actual securities or financial instruments issued by a government or organization.
It applies to the making, passing, possession, or transmission of such fictitious instruments within the United States, including conduct involving interstate or foreign commerce.
What the law prohibits.
A person violates this statute if they knowingly and with intent to defraud:
- Draw, print, process, produce, publish, or otherwise make, or attempt or cause the making of, any false or fictitious instrument purporting to be an actual security or financial instrument
- Pass, utter, present, offer, broker, issue, sell, possess, or attempt or cause any such false or fictitious instrument to be passed, offered, issued, sold, or possessed
- Use interstate or foreign commerce, including the mails or electronic communications, to transmit, transport, ship, move, transfer, or attempt or cause the transfer of any such false or fictitious instrument
Penalties.
A person convicted under this statute shall be guilty of a class B felony.
If you’re being investigated or charged under a federal fictitious obligations statute, call (314) 900-HELP or contact our criminal defense attorneys to discuss your options.
