writing dirty words, racial slurs on money...illegal?

Question

I have been guilty of this from time to time, as have most other people. A coworker of mine collects several 100's, 50's, 20's, 10's, 5's, and ones. Once he builds up a large amount (few hundred individual notes), he will write very dirty words, phrases, every ethnic slur in the dictionary, religious slurs, sexual phrases, and pictures of male and female anatomy...including male and females doing sex acts. He also puts phone numbers of ex girlfriends on bills with a "want a good time, call this number" message.

He sends them into circulation (hands a cashier the bill with the writing on one side facing down so the cashier doesn't see it, and inserts 20's 10's and 5's into change machines to get quarters). I think this is amusing in a way. I've already gotten a few bills with his writing on them as change. I even got one of them in a town 50 miles away!

These bills will circulate all over town and then make their way around the country. He usually defaces hundreds of dollars a month.

He's been doing this for a few years. There's probably thousands of notes with this writing circulating in this town and around the country.

Is this illegal?

I'd imagine it's highly offensive to Christians and highly religious or old fashioned people. As well as people sensitive to the several dozen slurs written on the bills.

Would this be noticed by the authorities? He's pretty much stopped doing it. But the bills are already out there. Does he have to worry about the secret service hunting him down?

Or people complaining? What happens to these heavily defaced bills once a bank sees them?

We're both in our early 20's. I only did it a few times when I was in my teens. I only muse in the reaction of an old fashioned person or Christian receiving a bill with such writing. Imagine the look of disgust or the immediate prayers after reading the note.

You never know, if you receive a bill, it might be his.

Answer 1

Yes, it is illegal to deface US currency in any manner. In addition, what you & your "friend" are doing is immoral and juvenile.

Answer 2

I guess it depends how bad it is, writing on money in itself isn't illegal (see source), but if it's all unrecognisable or anything so bad that most bankers won't want to circulate it anymore, then it probably would fall under this provision from the source.

Personally I think just dirty words or pictures is slightly funny as a onetime thing, racial slurs are not and the phone number of ex-girlfriends is pure harassment and definitely not funny at all. If he likes writing on his bills, why not join http://www.wheresgeorge.com/ and have some fun in a more amusing manner? Or why not put jokes and funny cartoons on these bills? This is incredibly immature, can't see why anyone would do this when they're over twelve or thirteen.

Answer 3

I think you are going to get him busted. Nothing is safe on-line. You'll be lucky if you don't get to meet the Secret Service soon. They have probably been building their case & you are now a new lead. Good luck. Defacing money is a felony.

Answer 4

It is illegal to alter or deface any us currency.

The authorities could probably give a rats *** here.

So in a way it is the perfect crime. However since it doesn't sound like you guys are in junior high, don't you have something better to do with your time?

Also how does this benefit your friend?

You guys sound really immature.

Answer 5

Don't be such a drag. You talk as if you are rolling in the green stuff.

Answer 6

It might not be illegal, however some of the stuff might.
It might be discrimination
and putting his ex gf's number might be harassment.

(however i find that somewhat amusing. how old is he?) =)

Answer 7

yeah, it doesnt matter that it's dirty words, writing on money is illegal, period.

Answer 8

People who would do this are pretty sick...

Answer 9

this is a stupid question. Defacing federal property, of course is illegal. duh!!!