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Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-73

§2292 Imparting or conveying false information

Title 18 › Part PART I— - CRIMES › Chapter CHAPTER 111A— - DESTRUCTION OF, OR INTERFERENCE WITH, VESSELS OR MARITIME FACILITIES › § 2292

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Knowingly giving or causing to be given false information that says someone is trying (or tried) to commit certain federal crimes is illegal. If you do that, you can be fined up to $5,000 in a civil lawsuit the United States brings. If you do it on purpose, to harm, or without caring if people could be hurt, you can be criminally fined or jailed for up to 5 years. A different rule in the law does not apply here. Which court can hear the case is decided the same way it would be for the crime the false report was about.

Full Legal Text

Title 18, §2292

Crimes and Criminal Procedure — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Whoever imparts or conveys or causes to be imparted or conveyed false information, knowing the information to be false, concerning an attempt or alleged attempt being made or to be made, to do any act that would be a crime prohibited by this chapter or by chapter 111 of this title, shall be subject to a civil penalty of not more than $5,000, which shall be recoverable in a civil action brought in the name of the United States.
(b)Whoever knowingly, intentionally, maliciously, or with reckless disregard for the safety of human life, imparts or conveys or causes to be imparted or conveyed false information, knowing the information to be false, concerning an attempt or alleged attempt to do any act which would be a crime prohibited by this chapter or by chapter 111 of this title, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 5 years.
(c)(1)Except as provided under paragraph (2), section 2290(a) shall not apply to any offense under this section.
(2)Jurisdiction over an offense under this section shall be determined in accordance with the provisions applicable to the crime prohibited by this chapter, or by chapter 111 of this title, to which the imparted or conveyed false information relates, as applicable.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

18 U.S.C. § 2292

Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal Procedure

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73