18-U.S.C.-1031

18-U.S.C.-1031

§1031 – Major Fraud Against The United States

Pathway

Title 18 > Part I > Chapter 47 > Section 1031

Details

  • Reference: Section 1031
  • Legend: §1031 – Major Fraud Against The United States
  • USCode Year: 2013

Provision Content

(a) Whoever knowingly executes, or attempts to execute, any scheme or artifice with the intent—

(1) to defraud the United States; or

(2) to obtain money or property by means of false or fraudulent pretenses, representations, or promises,

in any grant, contract, subcontract, subsidy, loan, guarantee, insurance, or other form of Federal assistance, including through the Troubled Asset Relief Program, an economic stimulus, recovery or rescue plan provided by the Government, or the Governments purchase of any troubled asset as defined in the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, or in any procurement of property or services as a prime contractor with the United States or as a subcontractor or supplier on a contract in which there is a prime contract with the United States, if the value of such grant, contract, subcontract, subsidy, loan, guarantee, insurance, or other form of Federal assistance, or any constituent part thereof, is $1,000,000 or more shall, subject to the applicability of subsection (c) of this section, be fined not more than $1,000,000, or imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both.

(b) The fine imposed for an offense under this section may exceed the maximum otherwise provided by law, if such fine does not exceed $5,000,000 and—

(1) the gross loss to the Government or the gross gain to a defendant is $500,000 or greater; or

(2) the offense involves a conscious or reckless risk of serious personal injury.

(c) The maximum fine imposed upon a defendant for a prosecution including a prosecution with multiple counts under this section shall not exceed $10,000,000.

(d) Nothing in this section shall preclude a court from imposing any other sentences available under this title, including without limitation a fine up to twice the amount of the gross loss or gross gain involved in the offense pursuant to 18 U.S.C. section 3571(d).

(e) In determining the amount of the fine, the court shall consider the factors set forth in 18 U.S.C. sections 3553 and 3572, and the factors set forth in the guidelines and policy statements of the United States Sentencing Commission, including—

(1) the need to reflect the seriousness of the offense, including the harm or loss to the victim and the gain to the defendant;

(2) whether the defendant previously has been fined for a similar offense; and

(3) any other pertinent equitable considerations.

(f) A prosecution of an offense under this section may be commenced any time not later than 7 years after the offense is committed, plus any additional time otherwise allowed by law.

(g)(1) In special circumstances and in his or her sole discretion, the Attorney General is authorized to make payments from funds appropriated to the Department of Justice to persons who furnish information relating to a possible prosecution under this section. The amount of such payment shall not exceed $250,000. Upon application by the Attorney General, the court may order that the Department shall be reimbursed for a payment from a criminal fine imposed under this section.

(2) An individual is not eligible for such a payment if—

(A) that individual is an officer or employee of a Government agency who furnishes information or renders service in the performance of official duties;

(B) that individual failed to furnish the information to the individuals employer prior to furnishing it to law enforcement authorities, unless the court determines the individual has justifiable reasons for that failure;

(C) the furnished information is based upon public disclosure of allegations or transactions in a criminal, civil, or administrative hearing, in a congressional, administrative, or GAO report, hearing, audit or investigation, or from the news media unless the person is the original source of the information. For the purposes of this subsection, original source means an individual who has direct and independent knowledge of the information on which the allegations are based and has voluntarily provided the information to the Government; or

(D) that individual participated in the violation of this section with respect to which such payment would be made.

(3) The failure of the Attorney General to authorize a payment shall not be subject to judicial review.

(h) Any individual who—

(1) is discharged, demoted, suspended, threatened, harassed, or in any other manner discriminated against in the terms and conditions of employment by an employer because of lawful acts done by the employee on behalf of the employee or others in furtherance of a prosecution under this section (including investigation for, initiation of, testimony for, or assistance in such prosecution), and

(2) was not a participant in the unlawful activity that is the subject of said prosecution, may, in a civil action, obtain all relief necessary to make such individual whole. Such relief shall include reinstatement with the same seniority status such individual would have had but for the discrimination, 2 times the amount of back pay, interest on the back pay, and compensation for any special damages sustained as a result of the discrimination, including litigation costs and reasonable attorneys fees.

(Added Pub. L. 100–700, §2(a), Nov. 19, 1988, 102 Stat. 4631; amended Pub. L. 101–123, §2(a), Oct. 23, 1989, 103 Stat. 759; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, §330002(a), (f), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2140; Pub. L. 111–21, §2(d), May 20, 2009, 123 Stat. 1618.)

References in Text

The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, referred to in subsec. (a), is div. A of Pub. L. 110–343, Oct. 3, 2008, 122 Stat. 3765, which is classified principally to chapter 52 (§5201 et seq.) of Title 12, Banks and Banking. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 5201 of Title 12 and Tables.

Amendments

2009—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 111–21, in concluding provisions, inserted any grant, contract, subcontract, subsidy, loan, guarantee, insurance, or other form of Federal assistance, including through the Troubled Asset Relief Program, an economic stimulus, recovery or rescue plan provided by the Government, or the Governments purchase of any troubled asset as defined in the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, or in before any procurement, substituted such grant, contract, subcontract, subsidy, loan, guarantee, insurance, or other form of Federal assistance for the contract, subcontract, and struck out for such property or services before is $1,000,000.

1994—Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 103–322, §330002(f), redesignated second subsec. (g) as (h).

Subsec. (g)(2)(A). Pub. L. 103–322, §330002(a), substituted a Government for a government.

Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 103–322, §330002(f), redesignated second subsec. (g) as (h).

1989—Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 101–123 added, after subsec. (f), subsec. (g) relating to payments by the Attorney General.

Effective Date of 1989 Amendment

Pub. L. 101–123, §2(b), Oct. 23, 1989, 103 Stat. 759, provided that: The amendment made by this section [amending this section] shall apply to contracts entered into on or after the date of the enactment of this Act [Oct. 23, 1989].

U.S. Encyclopedia of Law Coverage

18-U.S.C.-1007 in the Legal Encyclopedia: Criminal Law

In this entry about 18-U.S.C.-1007, find legal reference material, bibliographies and premiere content related to criminal law in the American Encyclopedia of Law, presenting a comprehensive view of the United States criminal law-specific issues, written by authorities in the field.

18-U.S.C.-1023 in the Legal Encyclopedia: Crimes

In this entry about 18-U.S.C.-1023, find legal reference material, bibliographies and premiere content related to crimes in the American Encyclopedia of Law, presenting a comprehensive view of the United States crimes-specific issues, written by authorities in the field.

Topic Map


Posted

in

, ,

by

Tags:

Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *