§224 — Title 18 Crimes and Criminal Procedure | U.S. Code

Summary

It makes it a federal crime to carry out, try to carry out, or plan with others any scheme that uses interstate or foreign travel or communication to bribe someone to affect a sporting event, when the person knows the scheme’s purpose is to influence that event. A person convicted can be fined under federal law, jailed for up to 5 years, or both. The law does not stop states or local authorities from using their own laws or jurisdiction. Key terms: "scheme in commerce" — a plan using interstate or foreign transport or communication; "sporting contest" — any publicly announced sports competition, pro or amateur; "person" — an individual or any business or organization.

Title 18, §224

Crimes and Criminal Procedure — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Whoever carries into effect, attempts to carry into effect, or conspires with any other person to carry into effect any scheme in commerce to influence, in any way, by bribery any sporting contest, with knowledge that the purpose of such scheme is to influence by bribery that contest, shall be fined under this title, or imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both.

(b)This section shall not be construed as indicating an intent on the part of Congress to occupy the field in which this section operates to the exclusion of a law of any State, territory, Commonwealth, or possession of the United States, and no law of any State, territory, Commonwealth, or possession of the United States, which would be valid in the absence of the section shall be declared invalid, and no local authorities shall be deprived of any jurisdiction over any offense over which they would have jurisdiction in the absence of this section.

(c)As used in this section—

(1)The term “scheme in commerce” means any scheme effectuated in whole or in part through the use in interstate or foreign commerce of any facility for transportation or communication;

(2)The term “sporting contest” means any contest in any sport, between individual contestants or teams of contestants (without regard to the amateur or professional status of the contestants therein), the occurrence of which is publicly announced before its occurrence;

(3)The term “person” means any individual and any partnership, corporation, association, or other entity.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1994—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $10,000”.

§224 Bribery in Sporting Contests

Summary

Title 18, §224

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Citations & Metadata