18-U.S.C.-500
§500 – Money Orders
Pathway
Title 18 > Part I > Chapter 25 > Section 500
Details
- Reference: Section 500
- Legend: §500 – Money Orders
- USCode Year: 2013
Provision Content
Whoever, with intent to defraud, falsely makes, forges, counterfeits, engraves, or prints any order in imitation of or purporting to be a blank money order or a money order issued by or under the direction of the Post Office Department or Postal Service; or
Whoever forges or counterfeits the signature or initials of any person authorized to issue money orders upon or to any money order, postal note, or blank therefor provided or issued by or under the direction of the Post Office Department or Postal Service, or post office department or corporation of any foreign country, and payable in the United States, or any material signature or indorsement thereon, or any material signature to any receipt or certificate of identification thereof; or
Whoever falsely alters, in any material respect, any such money order or postal note; or
Whoever, with intent to defraud, passes, utters or publishes or attempts to pass, utter or publish any such forged or altered money order or postal note, knowing any material initials, signature, stamp impression or indorsement thereon to be false, forged, or counterfeited, or any material alteration therein to have been falsely made; or
Whoever issues any money order or postal note without having previously received or paid the full amount of money payable therefor, with the purpose of fraudulently obtaining or receiving, or fraudulently enabling any other person, either directly or indirectly, to obtain or receive from the United States or Postal Service, or any officer, employee, or agent thereof, any sum of money whatever; or
Whoever embezzles, steals, or knowingly converts to his own use or to the use of another, or without authority converts or disposes of any blank money order form provided by or under the authority of the Post Office Department or Postal Service; or
Whoever receives or possesses any such money order form with the intent to convert it to his own use or gain or use or gain of another knowing it to have been embezzled, stolen or converted; or
Whoever, with intent to defraud the United States, the Postal Service, or any person, transmits, presents, or causes to be transmitted or presented, any money order or postal note knowing the same—
(1) to contain any forged or counterfeited signature, initials, or any stamped impression, or
(2) to contain any material alteration therein unlawfully made, or
(3) to have been unlawfully issued without previous payment of the amount required to be paid upon such issue, or
(4) to have been stamped without lawful authority; or
Whoever steals, or with intent to defraud or without being lawfully authorized by the Post Office Department or Postal Service, receives, possesses, disposes of or attempts to dispose of any postal money order machine or any stamp, tool, or instrument specifically designed to be used in preparing or filling out the blanks on postal money order forms—
Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.
(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 712; Pub. L. 91–375, §6(j)(5), Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 777; Pub. L. 92–430, Sept. 23, 1972, 86 Stat. 722; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, §330016(1)(L), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.)
Historical and Revision Notes
Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., §347 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, §218, 35 Stat. 1131).
References to persons causing, procuring, aiding or assisting were omitted as unnecessary as such persons are made principals by section 2 of this title.
Changes were made in phraseology.
Amendments
1994—Pub. L. 103–322, which directed the amendment of this section by substituting fined under this title for fined not more than $10,000, was executed by making the substitution for fined not more than $5,000 in last par., to reflect the probable intent of Congress.
1972—Pub. L. 92–430 substituted a blank money order or a money order issued by or under the direction of for a money order issued by and struck out , or by any officer or employee thereof in first par.; substituted or initials of any person authorized to issue money orders for of any officer or employee of the Postal Service, in second par.; inserted or attempts to pass, utter or publish before any such forged and substituted material initials, signature, stamp impression for material signature in fourth par.; inserted or Postal Service after the United States in fifth par.; inserted sixth and seventh pars.; inserted , the Postal Service after the United States, and substituted presents, or causes to be transmitted or presented, any money order for or presents to any officer or employee, or at any office of the United States, any money order and designated material after knowing the same as cls. (1) to (3) with minor changes and added cl. (4) in eighth par.; inserted ninth par., and enacted provisions of former seventh par. as tenth par.
1970—Pub. L. 91–375 inserted reference to Postal Service and substituted officer or employee for postmaster or agent in first par. and substituted officer or employee of the Postal Service for postmaster, assistant postmaster, chief clerk, or clerk and Post Office Department or the Postal Service, or post office department or corporation of any foreign country for Post Office Department of the United States, or of any foreign country in second par.
Change of Name
Post Office Department redesignated United States Postal Service pursuant to Pub. L. 91–375, §6(o), Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 733, set out as a note preceding section 101 of Title 39, Postal Service.
Effective Date of 1970 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 91–375 effective within 1 year after Aug. 12, 1970, on date established therefor by the Board of Governors of the United States Postal Service and published by it in the Federal Register, see section 15(a) of Pub. L. 91–375, set out as an Effective Date note preceding section 101 of Title 39, Postal Service.
U.S. Encyclopedia of Law Coverage
18-U.S.C.-479 in the Legal Encyclopedia: Criminal Law
In this entry about 18-U.S.C.-479, find legal reference material, bibliographies and premiere content related to criminal law in the American Encyclopedia of Law, presenting a comprehensive view of the United States criminal law-specific issues, written by authorities in the field.
18-U.S.C.-494 in the Legal Encyclopedia: Crimes
In this entry about 18-U.S.C.-494, find legal reference material, bibliographies and premiere content related to crimes in the American Encyclopedia of Law, presenting a comprehensive view of the United States crimes-specific issues, written by authorities in the field.
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