Fed. Sec. L. Rep. P 93,268 United States of America v. Ronnie Jones

TUTTLE, Circuit Judge:

This appeal raises the narrow question whether an airline ticket is a “security” within the meaning of 18 U.S.C. § 2311. Appellant Jones, who caused forged airline tickets to be transported in interstate commerce, was convicted of violating 18 U.S.C. § 2314 which proscribes the interstate carriage of “any falsely made, forged, altered, or counterfeited securities.” We reverse.

The case was tried by the court without a jury on stipulated facts. Jones, an employee of Braniff International Airlines, obtained through an acquaintance two blank airline tickets belonging to…