Whoever, for the purpose of conducting, promoting, or carrying on by means of the Postal Service, any scheme or device mentioned in section 1341 of this title or any other unlawful business, uses or assumes, or requests to be addressed by, any fictitious, false, or assumed title, name, or address or name other than his own proper name, or takes or receives from any post office or authorized depository of mail matter, any letter, postal card, package, or other mail matter addressed to any such fictitious, false, or assumed title, name, or address, or name other than his own proper name, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.
Historical and Revision Notes
Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., §339 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, §216, 35 Stat. 1131).
The punishment language used in section 1341 of this title was substituted in lieu of the reference to it in this section.
Minor changes in phraseology were made.
Amendments
1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted "fined under this title" for "fined not more than $1,000".
1970—Pub. L. 91–375 substituted "Postal Service" for "Post Office Department of the United States".
Effective Date of 1970 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 91–375 effective within 1 year after Aug. 12, 1970, on date established therefor by Board of Governors of United States Postal Service and published by it in Federal Register, see section 15(a) of Pub. L. 91–375, set out as an Effective Date note preceding section 101 of Title 39, Postal Service.
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