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Title 22 — Foreign Relations and IntercourseRelease 119-73

§4217 Embezzlement of fees or of effects of American citizens

Title 22 › Chapter CHAPTER 52— - FOREIGN SERVICE › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER XIV— - POWERS, DUTIES AND LIABILITIES OF CONSULAR OFFICERS GENERALLY › § 4217

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

A consular officer commits embezzlement if they willfully fail to give accurate quarterly reports about their office and the money received for the United States, or fail to turn over any balance owed by the end of the next quarter. If they take money or property of a U.S. citizen and do not, within a reasonable time after a demand by the Secretary of State or the citizen or their legal representative, explain and return it (minus lawful fees), they are guilty. The crime can be punished by up to 5 years in prison and a fine up to $2,000.

Full Legal Text

Title 22, §4217

Foreign Relations and Intercourse — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

Every consular officer who willfully neglects to render true and just quarterly accounts and returns of the business of his office, and of moneys received by him for the use of the United States, or who neglects to pay over any balance of said moneys due to the United States at the expiration of any quarter, before the expiration of the next succeeding quarter, or who shall receive money, property, or effects belonging to a citizen of the United States and shall not within a reasonable time after demand made upon him by the Secretary of State or by such citizen, his executor, administrator, or legal representative, account for and pay over all moneys, property, and effects, less his lawful fees, due to such citizen, shall be deemed guilty of embezzlement, and shall be punishable by imprisonment for not more than five years, and by a fine of not more than $2,000.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification R.S. § 1734 derived from act Mar. 3, 1869, ch. 125, § 5, 15 Stat. 322. Section was not enacted as part of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 which comprises this chapter. Section was formerly classified to section 1198 of this title, and prior thereto to section 102 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

22 U.S.C. § 4217

Title 22 — Foreign Relations and Intercourse

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73