18 U.S.C. § 513 — Securities of the States and private entities

(a) A person who makes, issues, or possesses a counterfeit security of a State, a political subdivision of a State, or an organization, or who makes, issues, or possesses a forged security of one of those entities, with the intent to deceive another person, organization, or government, may be fined under this title, imprisoned for up to 10 years, or both. (b) A person who makes, receives, possesses, sells, or otherwise transfers a tool designed for, or especially suited to, making a counterfeit or forged security, intending that the tool be used for that purpose, may be fined under this title, imprisoned for up to 10 years, or both. (c) For this section: (1) “Counterfeited” means a document that appears to be genuine but is not because it was falsely made or manufactured in its entirety. This section does not otherwise define “genuine.” (2) “Forged” means a document that appears to be genuine but is not because it was falsely altered, completed, signed, or endorsed; has a false addition or insertion; or combines parts of two or more genuine documents. This section does not otherwise define “genuine.” (3) “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) 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 a 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 showing 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, option, or other right to subscribe to or purchase any of the items in subparagraphs (A) through (C); or (E) a blank form for any of those items. (4) “Organization” means a legal entity, other than a government, established or organized for any purpose. It includes a corporation, company, association, firm, partnership, joint stock company, foundation, institution, society, union, or any other association of persons that operates in interstate or foreign commerce or whose activities affect interstate or foreign commerce. This section does not otherwise define “government” or “interstate or foreign commerce.” (5) “State” includes a State of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, and any other territory or possession of the United States.