18 USC § 480 - Possessing counterfeit foreign obligations or securities

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t18/s480"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "18 USC § 480 - Possessing counterfeit foreign obligations or securities"
title_number: 18
title_name: "CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE"
section_number: "480"
section_name: "Possessing counterfeit foreign obligations or securities"
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. 707; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(H), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147; Pub. L. 107–56, title III, § 375(c), Oct. 26, 2001, 115 Stat. 341.)"
---


# § 480. Possessing counterfeit foreign obligations or securities

Whoever, within the United States, knowingly and with intent to defraud, possesses or delivers any false, forged, or counterfeit bond, certificate, obligation, security, treasury note, bill, promise to pay, bank note, or bill issued by a bank or corporation of any foreign country, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both.

---

**Source Credit**: (June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 707; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(H), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147; Pub. L. 107–56, title III, § 375(c), Oct. 26, 2001, 115 Stat. 341.)

### Historical and Revision Notes

Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 274 (, ).

Mandatory punishment provision was rephrased in the alternative.

Changes were also made in phraseology.

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2001— substituted “20 years” for “one year”.

1994— substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $1,000”.