18 USC § 471 - Obligations or securities of United States

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t18/s471"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "18 USC § 471 - Obligations or securities of United States"
title_number: 18
title_name: "CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE"
section_number: "471"
section_name: "Obligations or securities of United States"
chapter_number: 25
chapter_name: "COUNTERFEITING AND FORGERY"
part_number: "I"
part_name: "CRIMES"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-21"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 705; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(K), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147; Pub. L. 107–56, title III, § 374(b), Oct. 26, 2001, 115 Stat. 340.)"
---


# § 471. Obligations or securities of United States

Whoever, with intent to defraud, falsely makes, forges, counterfeits, or alters any obligation or other security of the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both.

---

**Source Credit**: (June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 705; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(K), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147; Pub. L. 107–56, title III, § 374(b), Oct. 26, 2001, 115 Stat. 340.)

### Historical and Revision Notes

Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 262 (, ).

Mandatory punishment provision was rephrased in the alternative.

Changes in phraseology were made.

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2001— substituted “20 years” for “fifteen years”.

1994— substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $5,000”.