15 U.S.C. § 2070: Criminal penalties

Summary

Breaking the rule in another part of this law can bring up to 5 years in jail, a federal fine set by law, or both. A company’s director, officer, or agent who knowingly orders or does those illegal acts can be punished the same way even if the company is also punished. Punishment can also include losing assets tied to the crime. "Criminal violation" means a breach for which the person is sentenced to pay a fine, be jailed, or both.

Title 15, §2070

Commerce and Trade, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Violation of section 2068 of this title is punishable by—

(1)imprisonment for not more than 5 years for a knowing and willful violation of that section;

(2)a fine determined under section 3571 of title 18; or

(3)both.

(b)Any individual director, officer, or agent of a corporation who knowingly and willfully authorizes, orders, or performs any of the acts or practices constituting in whole or in part a violation of section 2068 of this title shall be subject to penalties under this section without regard to any penalties to which that corporation may be subject under subsection (a).

(c)(1)In addition to the penalties provided by subsection (a), the penalty for a criminal violation of this chapter or any other Act enforced by the Commission may include the forfeiture of assets associated with the violation.

(2)In this subsection, the term “criminal violation” means a violation of this chapter or any other Act enforced by the Commission for which the violator is sentenced to pay a fine, be imprisoned, or both.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2008—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 110–314, § 217(c)(1), amended subsec. (a) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (a) read as follows: “Any person who knowingly and willfully violates section 2068 of this title after having received notice of noncompliance from the Commission shall be fined not more than $50,000 or be imprisoned not more than one year, or both.” Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 110–314, § 217(c)(2), struck out “, and who has knowledge of notice of noncompliance received by the corporation from the Commission,” after “section 2068 of this title”. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 110–314, § 217(d), added subsec. (c).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Section effective on the sixtieth day following Oct. 27, 1972, see section 34 of Pub. L. 92–573, set out as a note under section 2051 of this title.

§2070 Criminal Penalties