Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-73
§874 Kickbacks from public works employees
Title 18 › Part PART I— - CRIMES › Chapter CHAPTER 41— - EXTORTION AND THREATS › § 874
Summary
It is a crime to force, scare, threaten to fire, or use any other trick to make a worker on a public building or public project — or on a job paid in whole or in part with U.S. loans or grants — give up any part of the pay they are owed. A person who does this can be fined, jailed for up to five years, or both.
Full Legal Text
Title 18, §874
Crimes and Criminal Procedure — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Whoever, by force, intimidation, or threat of procuring dismissal from employment, or by any other manner whatsoever induces any person employed in the construction, prosecution, completion or repair of any public building, public work, or building or work financed in whole or in part by loans or grants from the United States, to give up any part of the compensation to which he is entitled under his contract of employment, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Based on section 276b of title 40, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Public Buildings, Property, and Works (June 13, 1934, ch. 482, § 1, 48 Stat. 948). Slight changes of phraseology were made.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $5,000”.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
18 U.S.C. § 874
Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73