§506. Seals of departments or agencies

Whoever falsely makes, forges, counterfeits, mutilates, or alters the seal of any department or agency of the United States; or

Whoever knowingly uses, affixes, or impresses any such fraudulently made, forged, counterfeited, mutilated, or altered seal to or upon any certificate, instrument, commission, document, or paper, of any description; or

Whoever, with fraudulent intent, possesses any such seal, knowing the same to have been so falsely made, forged, counterfeited, mutilated, or altered-

Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.

(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 714 ; Sept. 13, 1994, Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, §330016(1)(K), 108 Stat. 2147 .)

Historical and revision Notes

Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., §131 (June 15, 1917, ch. 30, title X, §2, 40 Stat. 228 ).

Reference to persons causing, procuring, aiding or assisting was omitted as unnecessary as such persons are made principals by section 2 of this title.

In view of definitions of department and agency in section 6 of this title, words "department or agency" in first paragraph were substituted for "executive department, or any bureau, commission, or office".

Provision for 10 years' imprisonment was reduced to 5 years to conform to punishment provision in section 505 of this title, covering an offense of like gravity.

Minor changes in phraseology were also made.

Amendments

1994-Pub. L. 103–322 substituted "fined under this title" for "fined not more than $5,000".

Canal Zone

Applicability of section to Canal Zone, see section 14 of this title.

Cross References

Government seals wrongfully used and instruments wrongfully sealed, see section 1017 of this title.

Jurisdiction of offenses, see section 3241 of this title.

Letters, writings, etc., in violation of this section as nonmailable, see section 1717 of this title.

Section Referred to in Other Sections

This section is referred to in sections 14, 1717 of this title.