Federal Counterfeiting Charges Under 18 USC 471: Secret Service Investigations
So your probably facing federal counterfeiting charges and your ABSOLUTELY SHOCKED because you thought counterfeiting was about sophisticated criminal organizations. Maybe you unknowingly received fake bills as change. Maybe there’s allegations you passed counterfeit currency at stores. Or maybe prosecutors claim you manufactured or possessed equipment to make fake money. Look, we get it. Your COMPLETELY OVERWHELMED by these charges. And you should be! Because counterfeiting under 18 USC 471 carries 20 YEARS in federal prison and Secret Service investigates these cases with massive resources and sophisticated forensics!
What Is Federal Counterfeiting Under 18 USC 471?
Let me explain the currency crime that Secret Service takes personally. Section 471 prohibits falsely making, forging, counterfeiting, or altering any obligation or security of United States with intent to defraud! Applies to currency, bonds, treasury notes, federal reserve notes, coins!
The statute requires TWO elements: (1) falsely making or altering US obligation or security, (2) with intent to defraud! Both required – must prove counterfeit was made AND defendant intended to defraud someone!
Here’s what’s really scary – Secret Service investigates counterfeiting, not FBI! Highly trained agents with forensic labs analyzing every suspected bill! Secret Service has approximately $90 million budget for counterfeiting investigations! They take protecting US currency as personal mission!
“Counterfeit” means fake money so similar to genuine that ordinary person would be confused! Doesn’t need to be perfect – just good enough to deceive reasonable person! Poor quality fakes that obviously aren’t real? May not qualify as counterfeit!
What Are Related Counterfeiting Offenses?
Multiple overlapping statutes targeting different aspects of counterfeiting!
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(212) 300-5196Section 471 is manufacturing counterfeit obligations! Making fake bills, forging signatures, altering genuine currency! 20 years maximum and up to $250,000 fine!
Section 472 is passing or uttering counterfeit obligations! Putting counterfeit money into circulation – using fake bills to buy things! Also 20 years maximum! Don’t need to manufacture it – just passing fake money someone else made!
Section 473 is buying, selling, or possessing counterfeit obligations! Dealing in counterfeit currency – buying fake bills from manufacturers or selling to passers! Up to 20 years! Even possession with intent to use is crime!
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Featured on Netflix's "Inventing Anna," Todd Spodek brings decades of high-stakes criminal defense experience. His aggressive approach has secured dismissals and acquittals in cases others deemed unwinnable.
You paid for groceries with a $50 bill you received as change from a gas station, and the cashier flagged it as counterfeit. Now Secret Service agents are at your door saying they've linked you to several other counterfeit bills passed at nearby stores over the past month.
Can the government really charge me with federal counterfeiting if I didn't know the bills were fake when I spent them?
Under 18 USC 471, the government must prove you acted with fraudulent intent — meaning they need to show you knew the bills were counterfeit when you passed them. However, prosecutors often build circumstantial cases under 18 USC 472, arguing that passing multiple fake bills over time demonstrates knowledge, even if you claim ignorance about each individual transaction. The Secret Service will examine your financial records, surveillance footage, and any communications to establish a pattern. An experienced federal defense attorney can challenge the intent element by demonstrating you were an innocent recipient, which is why you should say nothing to investigators until you have counsel present.
This is general information only. Contact us for advice specific to your situation.
Section 475 is possessing plates, stones, or devices for counterfeiting! Having equipment capable of making fake money! Printers with specific capabilities, special inks, plates with currency designs! 25 years maximum for possessing counterfeiting tools!
Prosecutors charge ALL applicable sections! Found with fake bills AND printer? That’s manufacturing (471), possession (473), AND possession of equipment (475)! Three 20-year felonies for same conduct!
