Substantive Offenses of the FORGERY 18 U.S.C. § 495

• Jurisdiction: United States
• Section: Substantive Offenses

25

2.25

SUBSTANTIVE OFFENSES

2.25

FORGERY

18 U.S.C. § 495

The defendant is charged in count ————— with a

violation of 18 U.S.C. section 495.

This law makes it a crime to forge a signature on any

paper [for the purpose of obtaining] [for the purpose of en-

abling another person to obtain] money from the United

States or any of its off‌icers or agents.

To f‌ind the defendant guilty of this crime you must be

convinced that the government has proved each of the fol-

lowing beyond a reasonable doubt:

First: the defendant wrote the signature of [name payee]

on a [describe written instrument] without his permission;

and

Second: the defendant [did so for the purpose of obtain-

ing money from the United States when he knew he had no

right to have it] [did so for the purpose of enabling another

person to obtain money from the United States when the

defendant knew the other person had no right to have it].

The “payee” of a check is the true owner or person to

whom the check is payable.

The evidence does not have to show that the defendant

or anyone else actually obtained any money.