Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-73
§1521 Retaliating against a Federal judge or Federal law enforcement officer by false claim or slander of title
Title 18 › Part PART I— - CRIMES › Chapter CHAPTER 73— - OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE › § 1521
Summary
It makes it a federal crime to file, try to file, or agree to file a false lien or claim in public records or in private records the public can access against the property of a person named in section 1114 because of their official duties, when you know or should know the claim is false. The punishment can be a fine, up to 10 years in prison, or both.
Full Legal Text
Title 18, §1521
Crimes and Criminal Procedure — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Whoever files, attempts to file, or conspires to file, in any public record or in any private record which is generally available to the public, any false lien or encumbrance against the real or personal property of an individual described in section 1114, on account of the performance of official duties by that individual, knowing or having reason to know that such lien or encumbrance is false or contains any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned for not more than 10 years, or both.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
18 U.S.C. § 1521
Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73