Federal Crime of Counterfeiting Money - Scrofano Law (2024)

FAQs

Federal Crime of Counterfeiting Money - Scrofano Law? ›

Penalties for Counterfeiting Money

Federal Laws on Counterfeit United States Currency

§ 471 makes it a federal crime to falsely make, alter, or counterfeit any security or obligation that belongs to the United States of America. The obligations and securities covered under the federal statute include currency, treasury notes, reserve notes and bonds.

18 U.S. Code § 471 is a federal statute that states that a person can be fined and/or imprisoned for up to 20 years if they counterfeit a security of the United States with intent to defraud. States have their own laws for possession of counterfeit items.

Title 18, Section 471 of the United States Code defines this federal white collar crime as: Anyone, with the intent to defraud, who falsely makes, forges, counterfeits, or alters any obligation or other security of the United States is guilty of a federal crime.

Whoever, with intent to defraud, passes, utters, publishes, or sells, or attempts to pass, utter, publish, or sell, or with like intent brings into the United States or keeps in possession or conceals any falsely made, forged, counterfeited, or altered obligation or other security of the United States, shall be fined ...

Criminal Offenses

Manufacturing counterfeit United States currency or altering genuine currency to increase its value is a violation of Title 18, Section 471 of the United States Code and is punishable by a fine of up to $5,000, or 15 years imprisonment, or both.

Even a first-time counterfeiting charge can result in a misdemeanor or felony and some jail time. Prosecutors can charge individuals with forgery if they possess or use counterfeit items with the intent to defraud another person. It can be as simple as using fake money or as complex as counterfeiting an official seal.

Producing or distributing counterfeit money, or knowingly attempting to use counterfeit money, is a criminal offense under federal law.

Federal counterfeiting law forbids the production, possession, and use of fake documents that are used to defraud the U.S. government and others. Counterfeits that are covered by federal counterfeit crime laws include: United States currency (coins and banknotes) U.S. Treasury notes.

So in summary, counterfeiting US money is always a federal offense, never a state one. The Constitution says only Congress can make money, so if you try making your own, you're undermining federal power. Important laws like 18 USC § 471 make it a very serious felony.

Does the FBI investigate counterfeiting? ›

The FBI's IPR headquarters component remains committed to several national multi- agency investigative initiatives aimed at providing comprehensive resolution to several high- priority counterfeiting problems. These initiatives continue an important focus on health and safety in counterfeit goods.

The 1984 Act created an offense, codified at 18 U.S.C. § 2320, which provides that "(w)hoever intentionally traffics or attempts to traffic in goods and services and knowingly uses a counterfeit mark on or in connection with such goods or services" shall be guilty of a felony.

It is illegal to purchase counterfeit goods. Bringing them into the United States may result in civil or criminal penalties and purchasing counterfeit goods often supports criminal activities, such as forced labor or human trafficking.

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.

§ 2512(1)(c)(ii) prohibits the advertisem*nt of any device for "surreptitious interception." Such advertising is prohibited although the device itself may not be primarily useful for surreptitious interceptions and although the interceptions promoted are surreptitious, one-party consensual interceptions permissible ...

§ 371—Conspiracy to Defraud the United States. The general conspiracy statute, 18 U.S.C. § 371, creates an offense "[i]f two or more persons conspire either to commit any offense against the United States, or to defraud the United States, or any agency thereof in any manner or for any purpose.

Both federal and state laws have penalties for the crime of counterfeiting money. Under federal counterfeiting law, an individual convicted of creating, possessing, or using fake money may face a 20-year sentence in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.

If you suspect you've received counterfeit cash, don't simply pass it on to someone else. You could be accused of committing a serious crime. If the money came from a bank or other business, talk with a representative there, preferably before leaving the location. He or she might be willing to replace the bill.

We've all been short on cash at one time or another. And when you're desperate, the idea of creating some “extra” money on your inkjet printer might seem like an easy solution. But counterfeiting currency is no small crime — it's a federal felony that can land you in prison for up to 20 years!