Demands against the United States
Official text prohibited actmental stateif conditionpenaltylegal term
Whoever knowingly and fraudulently demands or endeavors to obtain any share or sum in the public stocks of the United States, or to have any part thereof transferred, assigned, sold, or conveyed, or to have any annuity, dividend, pension, wages, gratuity, or other debt due from the United States, or any part thereof, received, or paid by virtue of any false, forged, or counterfeited power of attorney, authority, or instrument, shall be or imprisoned not more than five years, or both; but if the sum or value so obtained or attempted to be obtained does not exceed $1,000, he shall be or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.
History: (June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 749 (PDF, 39 MB); Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, §330016(1)(H), (L), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147 (PDF, 52 MB); Pub. L. 104–294, title VI, §606(a), Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3511.)
Simplified explanation
It is a federal crime to knowingly and fraudulently try to get money owed by the United States, such as pensions, wages, or shares of public stock, using a false or forged power of attorney or other document.