---
kind: "section"
citation: "18 U.S.C. § 513"
title: "18"
title_heading: "Crimes and Criminal Procedure"
number: "513"
heading: "Securities of the States and private entities"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/18/513"
units:
  - "Part I — Crimes"
  - "Chapter 25 — Counterfeiting and Forgery"
---

# §513. Securities of the States and private entities

- (a) [Whoever](/usc/18/921.md?p=a-1) makes, utters or possesses a counterfeited security of a [State](/usc/18/31.md?p=a-9) or a political subdivision thereof or of an [organization](/usc/18/2256.md?p=4), or [whoever](/usc/18/921.md?p=a-1) makes, utters or possesses a forged security of a [State](/usc/18/31.md?p=a-9) or political subdivision thereof or of an [organization](/usc/18/2256.md?p=4), with intent to deceive another [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5), [organization](/usc/18/2256.md?p=4), or government shall be fined under this title[^1] or imprisoned for not more than ten years, or both.
- (b) [Whoever](/usc/18/921.md?p=a-1) makes, receives, possesses, sells or otherwise transfers an implement designed for or particularly suited for making a counterfeit or forged security with the intent that it be so used shall be punished by a fine under this title or by imprisonment for not more than ten years, or both.
- (c) For purposes of this section—
  - (1) the term “counterfeited” means a document that purports to be genuine but is not, because it has been falsely made or manufactured in its entirety;
  - (2) the term “forged” means a document that purports to be genuine but is not because it has been falsely altered, com­pleted, signed, or endorsed, or contains a false addition thereto or insertion therein, or is a combination of parts of two or more genuine documents;
  - (3) the term “security” means—
    - (A) a note, stock certificate, treasury stock certificate, bond, treasury bond, debenture, certificate of deposit, interest coupon, bill, check, draft, warrant, debit instrument as defined in [section 916(c)](/usc/18/916.md)[^2] of the Electronic Fund Transfer Act, money order, traveler’s check, letter of credit, warehouse receipt, negotiable bill of lading, evidence of indebtedness, certificate of interest in or participation in any profit-sharing agreement, collateral-trust certificate, pre-reorganization certificate of subscription, transferable share, investment contract, voting trust certificate, or certificate of interest in tangible or intangible property;
    - (B) an instrument evidencing ownership of goods, wares, or merchandise;
    - (C) any other written instrument commonly known as a security;
    - (D) a certificate of interest in, certificate of participation in, certificate for, receipt for, or warrant or option or other right to subscribe to or purchase, any of the foregoing; or
    - (E) a blank form of any of the foregoing;
  - (4) the term “[organization](/usc/18/2256.md?p=4)” means a legal entity, other than a government, established or organized for any purpose, and includes a corporation, company, association, firm, partnership, joint stock company, foundation, institution, society, union, or any other association of [persons](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) which operates in or the activities of which affect [interstate or foreign commerce](/usc/18/921.md?p=a-2); and
  - (5) the term “[State](/usc/18/31.md?p=a-9)” includes a [State](/usc/18/31.md?p=a-9) of the [United States](/usc/18/229F.md?p=9), the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, and any other territory or possession of the [United States](/usc/18/229F.md?p=9).

## Footnotes

[^1]: See 1994 Amendment note below.
[^2]: See References in Text note below.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 98–473, title II, § 1105(a), Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 2144, § 511; renumbered § 513, Pub. L. 99–646, § 31(a), Nov. 10, 1986, 100 Stat. 3598; amended Pub. L. 101–647, title XXXV, § 3515, Nov. 29, 1990, 104 Stat. 4923; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, §§ 330008(1), 330016(2)(C), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2142, 2148.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

Section 916 of the Electronic Fund Transfer Act, referred to in subsec. (c)(3)(A), was renumbered section 917 by Pub. L. 111–24, title IV, § 401(1), May 22, 2009, 123 Stat. 1751, and is classified to section 1693n of Title 15, Commerce and Trade.

### Amendments

1994—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 103–322, § 330016(2)(C), which directed the amendment of this section by substituting “under this title” for “of not more than $250,000”, was executed by making the substitution for “not more than $250,000”, to reflect the probable intent of Congress.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 103–322, § 330016(2)(C), substituted “fine under this title” for “fine of not more than $250,000”.

Subsec. (c)(4). Pub. L. 103–322, § 330008(1), substituted “association of persons” for “association or persons”.

1990—Subsec. (c)(3)(A). Pub. L. 101–647 struck out “(15 U.S.C. 1693(c))” after “Electronic Fund Transfer Act” and inserted comma after “profit-sharing agreement”.