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Title 29 — LaborRelease 119-73

§1131 Criminal penalties

Title 29 › Chapter CHAPTER 18— - EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY PROGRAM › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— - PROTECTION OF EMPLOYEE BENEFIT RIGHTS › Subtitle Subtitle B— - Regulatory Provisions › Part part 5— - administration and enforcement › § 1131

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

If someone on purpose breaks any rule in part 1 of this subtitle, or any regulation or order under those rules, and is convicted, they can be fined up to $100,000, jailed up to 10 years, or both. If the violator is an organization (not an individual), the fine can be up to $500,000. If someone is convicted of breaking section 1149, they can be jailed up to 10 years, fined under Title 18, or both.

Full Legal Text

Title 29, §1131

Labor — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Any person who willfully violates any provision of part 1 of this subtitle, or any regulation or order issued under any such provision, shall upon conviction be fined not more than $100,000 or imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both; except that in the case of such violation by a person not an individual, the fine imposed upon such person shall be a fine not exceeding $500,000.
(b)Any person that violates section 1149 of this title shall upon conviction be imprisoned not more than 10 years or fined under title 18, or both.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2010—Pub. L. 111–148 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a) and added subsec. (b). 2002—Pub. L. 107–204 substituted “$100,000” for “$5,000”, “10 years” for “one year”, and “$500,000” for “$100,000”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Regulations

Secretary authorized, effective Sept. 2, 1974, to promulgate

Regulations

wherever provisions of this subchapter call for the promulgation of

Regulations

, see section 1031 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

29 U.S.C. § 1131

Title 29 — Labor

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73