FRAUDS AND SWINDLES
§ 1341. Frauds and swindles
Whoever, having devised or intending to
devise any scheme or artifice to defraud, or
for obtaining money or property by means of
false or fraudulent pretenses,
representations, or promises, or to sell,
dispose of, loan, exchange, alter, give
away, distribute, supply, or furnish or
procure for unlawful use any counterfeit or
spurious coin, obligation, security, or
other article, or anything represented to be
or intimated or held out to be such
counterfeit or spurious article, for the
purpose of executing such scheme or artifice
or attempting so to do, places in any post
office or authorized depository for mail
matter, any matter or thing whatever to be
sent or delivered by the Postal Service, or
deposits or causes to be deposited any
matter or thing whatever to be sent or
delivered by any private or commercial
interstate carrier, or takes or receives
therefrom, any such matter or thing, or
knowingly causes to be delivered by mail or
such carrier according to the direction
thereon, or at the place at which it is
directed to be delivered by the person to
whom it is addressed, any such matter or
thing, shall be fined under this title or
imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both.
If the violation affects a financial
institution, such person shall be fined not
more than $1,000,000 or imprisoned not more
than 30 years, or both.
§ 1343. Fraud by wire, radio, or television
Whoever, having
devised or
intending to
devise any
scheme or
artifice to
defraud, or for
obtaining money
or property by
means of false
or fraudulent
pretenses,
representations,
or promises,
transmits or
causes to be
transmitted by
means of wire,
radio, or
television
communication in
interstate or
foreign
commerce, any
writings, signs,
signals,
pictures, or
sounds for the
purpose of
executing such
scheme or
artifice, shall
be fined under
this title or
imprisoned not
more than 20
years, or both.
If the violation
affects a
financial
institution,
such person
shall be fined
not more than
$1,000,000 or
imprisoned not
more than 30
years, or both.
§ 1001. Statements or entries generally
(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, whoever, in any matter within the jurisdiction of the executive, legislative, or judicial branch of the Government of the United States, knowingly and willfully—
(1) falsifies, conceals, or covers up by any trick, scheme, or device a material fact;
(2) makes any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation; or
(3) makes or uses any false writing or document knowing the same to contain any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or entry;
shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 5 years or, if the offense involves international or domestic terrorism (as defined in section 2331), imprisoned not more than 8 years, or both.
(b) Subsection (a) does not apply to a party to a judicial proceeding, or that party’s counsel, for statements, representations, writings or documents submitted by such party or counsel to a judge or magistrate in that proceeding.
(c) With respect to any matter within the jurisdiction of the legislative branch, subsection (a) shall apply only to—
(1) administrative matters, including a claim for payment, a matter related to the procurement of property or services, personnel or employment practices, or support services, or a document required by law, rule, or regulation to be submitted to the Congress or any office or officer within the legislative branch; or
(2) any investigation or review, conducted pursuant to the authority of any committee, subcommittee, commission or office of the Congress, consistent with applicable rules of the House or Senate.