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

Summary

It is a crime in the United States to buy or sell bonds, securities, or other obligations of a foreign government (or its political parts or groups acting for it) that were issued after April 13, 1934, or to make a new loan to them, if that government or group is in default on payments to the United States. Renewing or adjusting existing debt is allowed. A person convicted can be fined under federal law, imprisoned for not more than five years, or both. The rule covers people, partnerships, corporations, and associations, but not public corporations created by Congress or companies the United States controls by owning stock. If the foreign government is a member of both the International Monetary Fund and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the ban does not apply.

Title 18, §955

Crimes and Criminal Procedure — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

Whoever, within the United States, purchases or sells the bonds, securities, or other obligations of any foreign government or political subdivision thereof or any organization or association acting for or on behalf of a foreign government or political subdivision thereof, issued after April 13, 1934, or makes any loan to such foreign government, political subdivision, organization or association, except a renewal or adjustment of existing indebtedness, while such government, political subdivision, organization or association, is in default in the payment of its obligations, or any part thereof, to the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned for not more than five years, or both. This section is applicable to individuals, partnerships, corporations, or associations other than public corporations created by or pursuant to special authorizations of Congress, or corporations in which the United States has or exercises a controlling interest through stock ownership or otherwise. While any foreign government is a member both of the International Monetary Fund and of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, this section shall not apply to the sale or purchase of bonds, securities, or other obligations of such government or any political subdivision thereof or of any organization or association acting for or on behalf of such government or political subdivision, or to making of any loan to such government, political subdivision, organization, or association.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Based on section 804a of title 31, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Money and Finance (Apr. 13, 1934, ch. 112, §§ 1, 2, 48 Stat. 574). Words “within the United States” were substituted for “within the jurisdiction” etc., in view of the definition of United States in section 5 of this title. Words “upon conviction thereof” were omitted from first paragraph as surplusage since punishment cannot be imposed until a conviction is secured. Minor changes were made in phraseology. Senate Revision AmendmentAn additional paragraph was added to the text of this section by Senate amendment, which was taken from section 804b of Title 31, U.S.C., Money and Finance. Therefore, as finally enacted, such section 804b and the Acts from which it was derived (Act Apr. 13, 1934, ch. 112, § 3, as added July 31, 1945, ch. 339, § 9, 59 Stat. 516), were an additional source of this section. See

Senate Report No. 1620

, amendment No. 9, 80th Cong.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $10,000” in first par.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Applicability of Section Pub. L. 102–511, title IX, § 902, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 3355, provided that: “Section 955 of title 18, United States Code, shall not apply with respect to any obligations of the former Soviet Union, or any of the independent states of the former Soviet Union, or any political subdivision, organization, or association thereof.”

§955 Financial Transactions with Foreign Governments