Title 18, Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-102
§1903 Speculation in Stocks or Commodities Affecting Crop Insurance
Title 18 › PART I — CRIMES › CHAPTER 93 — PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES › § 1903
Summary
Officials who run crop-insurance programs or the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation must not speculate in covered farm commodities, related contracts, or related companies’ stock. Violators face fines or up to two years’ prison.
Full Legal Text
Title 18, §1903
Crimes and Criminal Procedure, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Whoever, while acting in any official capacity in the administration of any Act of Congress relating to crop insurance or to the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation speculates in any agricultural commodity or product thereof, to which such enactments apply, or in contracts relating thereto, or in the stock or membership interests of any association or corporation engaged in handling, processing, or disposing of any such commodity or product, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years, or both.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Based on section 1514(b) of title 7, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Agriculture (Feb. 16, 1938, ch. 30, title V, § 514(b), 52 Stat. 76). Words “upon conviction thereof” were omitted as surplusage since punishment can be imposed only after a conviction. Minor changes were made in phraseology and translations.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $10,000”.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
18 U.S.C. § 1903
Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102