18 U.S.C. § 654: Officer or employee of United…

Summary

If a U.S. officer or employee takes or uses someone else’s money or property that came into their hands because of their job, or by claiming job authority, they can be punished. They can be fined up to the value taken or the legal fine limit, whichever is greater, jailed up to 10 years, or both. If the amount taken is $1,000 or less, the fine or jail time is up to 1 year, or both.

Title 18, §654

Crimes and Criminal Procedure, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

Whoever, being an officer or employee of the United States or of any department or agency thereof, embezzles or wrongfully converts to his own use the money or property of another which comes into his possession or under his control in the execution of such office or employment, or under color or claim of authority as such officer or employee, shall be fined under this title or not more than the value of the money and property thus embezzled or converted, whichever is greater, or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both; but if the sum embezzled is $1,000 or less, he shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 183 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, § 97, 35 Stat. 1106). The phrase “Whoever being an officer or agent of the United States or of any department or agency thereof,” was substituted for the words “Any officer connected with, or employed in the Internal Revenue Service of the United States * * * And any officer of the United States, or any assistant of such officer,” in order to clarify scope of section. (See definitive section 6 and reviser’s note thereunder.) The embezzlement of Government money or property is adequately covered by section 641 of this title. The smaller punishment for an offense involving $100 or less was added. (See reviser’s notes under section 641 and 645 of this title.) Minor changes were made in phraseology.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1996—Pub. L. 104–294 substituted “$1,000” for “$100”. 1994—Pub. L. 103–322, § 330016(2)(H), substituted “shall be fined under this title or not more than the value of the money and property thus embezzled or converted, whichever is greater, or imprisoned” for “shall be fined not more than the value of the money and property thus embezzled or converted, or imprisoned”. Pub. L. 103–322, § 330016(1)(H), substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $1,000” after “he shall be”.

§654 Officer or Employee of United States Converting Property of Another