Title 18, Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-110

§1040 Fraud in Connection with Major Disaster or Emergency Benefits

Title 18 › PART I — CRIMES › CHAPTER 47 — FRAUD AND FALSE STATEMENTS › § 1040

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

Makes it a crime to knowingly lie, hide important facts, or use fake papers in any matter involving disaster or emergency benefits or related government contracts. That includes benefits tied to a major disaster or emergency declaration under the Stafford Act (sections 401 or 501), and work done as a prime contractor, subcontractor, or supplier on contracts with the United States. A person who does this can be fined under federal law, imprisoned for up to 30 years, or both. The rule applies when the benefit or payment affects interstate or foreign commerce, is sent through the mail at any point, or is a U.S. government record, payment, or thing of value. “Benefit” means any record, payment, money, item, good, service, right, or privilege provided by the U.S., a state or local government, or another entity.

Full Legal Text

Title 18, §1040

Crimes and Criminal Procedure, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Whoever, in a circumstance described in subsection (b) of this section, knowingly—

(1)falsifies, conceals, or covers up by any trick, scheme, or device any material fact; or

(2)makes any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation, or makes or uses any false writing or document knowing the same to contain any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation,

in any matter involving any benefit authorized, transported, transmitted, transferred, disbursed, or paid in connection with a major disaster declaration under section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170) or an emergency declaration under section 501 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5191), or in connection with any procurement of property or services related to any emergency or major disaster declaration as a prime contractor with the United States or as a subcontractor or supplier on a contract in which there is a prime contract with the United States, shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 30 years, or both.

(b)A circumstance described in this subsection is any instance where—

(1)the authorization, transportation, transmission, transfer, disbursement, or payment of the benefit is in or affects interstate or foreign commerce;

(2)the benefit is transported in the mail at any point in the authorization, transportation, transmission, transfer, disbursement, or payment of that benefit; or

(3)the benefit is a record, voucher, payment, money, or thing of value of the United States, or of any department or agency thereof.

(c)In this section, the term “benefit” means any record, voucher, payment, money or thing of value, good, service, right, or privilege provided by the United States, a State or local government, or other entity.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

18 U.S.C. § 1040

Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110