Title 18, Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-110

§2292 Imparting or Conveying False Information

Title 18 › PART I — CRIMES › CHAPTER 111A — DESTRUCTION OF, OR INTERFERENCE WITH, VESSELS OR MARITIME FACILITIES › § 2292

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

Giving false information about an attempt or claimed attempt to commit certain federal crimes can lead to punishment. If you knowingly give or cause someone to give that false information, the United States can sue you and try to collect a civil fine up to $5,000. If you do it knowingly, intentionally, maliciously, or with reckless disregard for people’s safety, you can be fined under federal law or sent to prison for up to 5 years. Which court handles the case follows the same rules as for the crime the false report was about.

Full Legal Text

Title 18, §2292

Crimes and Criminal Procedure, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In General.—

Whoever imparts or conveys or causes to be imparted or conveyed false information, knowing the information to be false, concerning an attempt or alleged attempt being made or to be made, to do any act that would be a crime prohibited by this chapter or by chapter 111 of this title, shall be subject to a civil penalty of not more than $5,000, which shall be recoverable in a civil action brought in the name of the United States.

(b)Malicious Conduct.—

Whoever knowingly, intentionally, maliciously, or with reckless disregard for the safety of human life, imparts or conveys or causes to be imparted or conveyed false information, knowing the information to be false, concerning an attempt or alleged attempt to do any act which would be a crime prohibited by this chapter or by chapter 111 of this title, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 5 years.

(c)Jurisdiction.—

(1)In general.—

Except as provided under paragraph (2), section 2290(a) shall not apply to any offense under this section.

(2)Jurisdiction.—

Jurisdiction over an offense under this section shall be determined in accordance with the provisions applicable to the crime prohibited by this chapter, or by chapter 111 of this title, to which the imparted or conveyed false information relates, as applicable.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

18 U.S.C. § 2292

Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110