Title 7AgricultureRelease 119-73not60

§2024 Violations and Enforcement

Title 7 › Chapter 51— SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM › § 2024

Last updated Apr 3, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary can control when, how, and to whom benefits are issued or cashed to protect the United States and to make sure the rules are followed. If someone knowingly uses, trades for, gets, changes, or keeps benefits in ways that break the rules, they can be punished. If the benefits are worth $5,000 or more, the person can be convicted of a serious crime and face up to $250,000 in fines, up to 20 years in prison, or both. If the value is $100 or more but less than $5,000, it is also a serious crime: first conviction can bring up to $10,000 in fines or up to 5 years in prison; later convictions bring 6 months to 5 years in prison and possible fines. If the value is under $100, it is a less serious crime: first conviction can bring up to $1,000 in fines or up to one year in jail; later convictions can bring up to one year in jail and fines. A court can also suspend someone from the food assistance program for up to 18 more months beyond any suspension already required by law. Instead of or before jail, a court may let a convicted person do court-approved work to pay back losses; if the person agrees and finishes the work, the court can hold off or cancel the sentence. If someone knowingly tries to cash or redeem benefits worth $100 or more that were gotten or used illegally, that is a serious crime with penalties up to $20,000 in fines or up to 5 years in prison for a first conviction and 1–5 years for later convictions; under $100 it is a less serious crime with the same $1,000/one-year limits as above. Benefits are treated as obligations of the United States. The Secretary can seize and deny ownership of nonfood goods, money, checks, securities, or other items given in exchange for benefits or gotten by using a stolen or illegal access device. A court must also order forfeiture of property used to commit or help commit serious violations, or of the proceeds from those crimes, but not property owned without the owner’s knowledge. Money from forfeited property is used first to repay the Department of Justice’s costs, then the Agriculture Office of Inspector General’s costs, then other law enforcement costs, and finally to fund approval and compliance checks of retail stores and wholesale food sellers.

Full Legal Text

Title 7, §2024

Agriculture — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the Secretary may provide for the issuance or presentment for redemption of benefits to such person or persons, and at such times and in such manner, as the Secretary deems necessary or appropriate to protect the interests of the United States or to ensure enforcement of the provisions of this chapter or the regulations issued pursuant to this chapter.
(b)(1)Subject to the provisions of paragraph (2) of this subsection, whoever knowingly uses, transfers, acquires, alters, or possesses benefits in any manner contrary to this chapter or the regulations issued pursuant to this chapter shall, if such benefits are of a value of $5,000 or more, be guilty of a felony and shall be fined not more than $250,000 or imprisoned for not more than twenty years, or both, and shall, if such benefits are of a value of $100 or more, but less than $5,000, or if the item used, transferred, acquired, altered, or possessed is a benefit that has a value of $100 or more, but less than $5,000, be guilty of a felony and shall, upon the first conviction thereof, be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned for not more than five years, or both, and, upon the second and any subsequent conviction thereof, shall be imprisoned for not less than six months nor more than five years and may also be fined not more than $10,000 or, if such benefits are of a value of less than $100, or if the item used, transferred, acquired, altered, or processed 11 So in original. Probably should be “possessed”. is a benefit that has a value of less than $100, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon the first conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned for not more than one year, or both, and upon the second and any subsequent conviction thereof, shall be imprisoned for not more than one year and may also be fined not more than $1,000. In addition to such penalties, any person convicted of a felony or misdemeanor violation under this subsection may be suspended by the court from participation in the supplemental nutrition assistance program for an additional period of up to eighteen months consecutive to that period of suspension mandated by section 2015(b)(1) of this title.
(2)In the case of any individual convicted of an offense under paragraph (1) of this subsection, the court may permit such individual to perform work approved by the court for the purpose of providing restitution for losses incurred by the United States and the State agency as a result of the offense for which such individual was convicted. If the court permits such individual to perform such work and such individual agrees thereto, the court shall withhold the imposition of the sentence on the condition that such individual perform the assigned work. Upon the successful completion of the assigned work the court may suspend such sentence.
(c)Whoever presents, or causes to be presented, benefits for payment or redemption of the value of $100 or more, knowing the same to have been received, transferred, or used in any manner in violation of the provisions of this chapter or the regulations issued pursuant to this chapter, shall be guilty of a felony and, upon the first conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than $20,000 or imprisoned for not more than five years, or both, and, upon the second and any subsequent conviction thereof, shall be imprisoned for not less than one year nor more than five years and may also be fined not more than $20,000, or, if such benefits are of a value of less than $100, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon the first conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned for not more than one year, or both, and, upon the second and any subsequent conviction thereof, shall be imprisoned for not more than one year and may also be fined not more than $1,000. In addition to such penalties, any person convicted of a felony or misdemeanor violation under this subsection may be suspended by the court from participation in the supplemental nutrition assistance program for an additional period of up to eighteen months consecutive to that period of suspension mandated by section 2015(b)(1) of this title.
(d)Benefits issued pursuant to this chapter shall be deemed to be obligations of the United States within the meaning of section 8 of title 18.
(e)The Secretary may subject to forfeiture and denial of property rights any nonfood items, moneys, negotiable instruments, securities, or other things of value that are furnished by any person in exchange for benefits, or anything of value obtained by use of an access device, in any manner contrary to this chapter or the regulations issued under this chapter. Any forfeiture and disposal of property forfeited under this subsection shall be conducted in accordance with procedures contained in regulations issued by the Secretary.
(f)(1)In imposing a sentence on a person convicted of an offense in violation of subsection (b) or (c), a court shall order, in addition to any other sentence imposed under this section, that the person forfeit to the United States all property described in paragraph (2).
(2)All property, real and personal, used in a transaction or attempted transaction, to commit, or to facilitate the commission of, a violation (other than a misdemeanor) of subsection (b) or (c), or proceeds traceable to a violation of subsection (b) or (c), shall be subject to forfeiture to the United States under paragraph (1).
(3)No interest in property shall be forfeited under this subsection as the result of any act or omission established by the owner of the interest to have been committed or omitted without the knowledge or consent of the owner.
(4)The proceeds from any sale of forfeited property and any monies forfeited under this subsection shall be used—
(A)first, to reimburse the Department of Justice for the costs incurred by the Department to initiate and complete the forfeiture proceeding;
(B)second, to reimburse the Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General for any costs the Office incurred in the law enforcement effort resulting in the forfeiture;
(C)third, to reimburse any Federal or State law enforcement agency for any costs incurred in the law enforcement effort resulting in the forfeiture; and
(D)fourth, by the Secretary to carry out the approval, reauthorization, and compliance investigations of retail stores and wholesale food concerns under section 2018 of this title.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification Pub. L. 110–234 and Pub. L. 110–246 made identical

Amendments

to this section. The

Amendments

by Pub. L. 110–234 were repealed by section 4(a) of Pub. L. 110–246.

Amendments

2018—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 115–334 substituted “exchange for benefits, or anything” for “exchange for coupons, authorization cards or access devices, or anything”. 2014—Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 113–79 substituted “a benefit” for “an benefit” in two places. 2008—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 110–246, § 4115(b)(10)(A), substituted “benefits” for “coupons”. Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 110–246, § 4115(b)(10)(B), substituted “possesses benefits” for “possesses coupons, authorization cards, or access devices”, “such benefits are of a value of $5,000” for “such coupons, authorization cards, or access devices are of a value of $5,000”, “such benefits are of a value of $100” for “such coupons or authorization cards are of a value of $100”, and “such benefits are of a value of less than $100” for “such coupons or authorization cards are of a value of less than $100”, and substituted “benefit” for “access device” in two places. Pub. L. 110–246, § 4001(b), substituted “supplemental nutrition assistance program” for “food stamp program”. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 110–246, § 4115(b)(10)(C), substituted “benefits” for “coupons” in two places. Pub. L. 110–246, § 4001(b), substituted “supplemental nutrition assistance program” for “food stamp program”. Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 110–246, § 4115(b)(10)(D), substituted “Benefits” for “Coupons”. Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 110–246, § 4115(b)(10)(G), which directed amendment of subsec. (e) by substituting “benefits” for “coupon, authorization cards or access devices”, could not be executed because the phrase “coupon, authorization cards or access devices” did not appear. Pub. L. 110–246, § 4115(b)(10)(E), (F), redesignated subsec. (g) as (e) and struck out former subsec. (e) which read as follows: “Any coupon issuer or any officer, employee, or agent thereof convicted of failing to provide the report required under section 2016(d) of this title or of violating the

Regulations

issued under section 2016(d) and (e) of this title shall be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned for not more than one year, or both.” Subsecs. (f) to (h). Pub. L. 110–246, § 4115(b)(10)(E), (F), redesignated subsecs. (g) and (h) as (e) and (f), respectively, and struck out former subsec. (f) which read as follows: “Any coupon issuer or any officer, employee, or agent thereof convicted of knowingly providing false information in the report required under section 2016(d) of this title shall be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.” 1996—Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 104–193, § 846(a), struck out “or intended to be furnished” after “that are furnished”. Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 104–193, § 846(b), added subsec. (h). 1990—Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 101–624, § 1748, inserted “if such coupons, authorization cards, or access devices are of a value of $5,000 or more, be guilty of a felony and shall be fined not more than $250,000 or imprisoned for not more than twenty years, or both, and shall,” after “chapter shall”, and inserted “but less than $5,000,” after “$100 or more” in two places. Pub. L. 101–624, § 1747(a), substituted “, authorization cards, or access devices in any manner contrary to” for “or authorization cards in any manner not authorized by”, and inserted “or if the item used, transferred, acquired, altered, or possessed is an access device that has a value of $100 or more,” after “a value of $100 or more,”, and inserted “or if the item used, transferred, acquired, altered, or processed is an access device that has a value of less than $100,” after “a value of less than $100,”. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 101–624, § 1749, substituted “$20,000” for “$10,000” in two places. Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 101–624, § 1747(c), substituted “, authorization cards or access devices, or anything of value obtained by use of an access device, in any manner contrary to” for “or authorization cards in any manner not authorized by”. 1981—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 97–98 designated existing provision as par. (1), inserted provisions specifying the minimum and maximum sentences for the second and any subsequent convictions for felonies and misdemeanors and provision authorizing the court to suspend a person convicted of a felony or misdemeanor under this subsection from participation in the food stamp program for an additional period of up to eighteen months consecutive to that period of suspension mandated by section 2015(b)(1) of this title, and added par. (2). Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 97–98 inserted provisions specifying the minimum and maximum sentences for the second and any subsequent convictions for felonies and misdemeanors and provision authorizing the court to suspend a person convicted of a felony or misdemeanor under this subsection from participation in the food stamp program for an additional period of up to eighteen months consecutive to that period of suspension mandated by section 2015(b)(1) of this title. 1980—Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 96–249 added subsec. (g). 1977—Pub. L. 95–113 substituted revised provisions relating to violations and

Enforcement

for provisions relating to the State financing of administrative costs which are now covered by section 2025 of this title. 1974—Pub. L. 93–347 authorized the Secretary of Agriculture to pay each State agency 50 percent of all the State agency’s costs in administering the Food Stamp Program and required that each State make reports from time to time at the request of the Secretary of Agriculture on the effectiveness of the administration of the Food Stamp Program in that State. 1971—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 91–671 struck out “cooperate with State agencies in the certification of households which are not receiving any type of public assistance so as to insure the effective certification of such households in accordance with the eligibility standards approved under the provisions of section 2019 of this title. Such cooperation shall include payments to State agencies for part of the cost they incur in the certification of such households” after “is authorized to”, and in providing for payments to State agencies, increased percentage from 50 to 62½, and substituted cl. (1) provisions for travel and travel-related cost of personnel for such time as they are employed in taking the action required under section 2019(e) of this title and in making certification determinations for households other than those which consist solely of recipients of welfare assistance for prior cl. (1) for direct salary costs of personnel used to make interviews and such postinterview investigations as are necessary to certify eligibility of such households, for periods of employment, in certifying the eligibility of such households; cl. (2) respecting direct salary, travel, and travel-related costs (including such fringe benefits as are normally paid) of personnel for time of employment as hearing officials under section 2019(e) of this title for prior cl. (2) respecting travel and related costs incurred by personnel in postinterview field investigations of households, and deleted cl. (3) for an amount not to exceed 25 per centum of the costs computed under former cls. (1) and (2).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2008 AmendmentAmendment of this section and repeal of Pub. L. 110–234 by Pub. L. 110–246 effective May 22, 2008, the date of enactment of Pub. L. 110–234, except as otherwise provided, see section 4 of Pub. L. 110–246, set out as an

Effective Date

note under section 8701 of this title. Amendment by section 4001(b) and 4115(b)(10) of Pub. L. 110–246 effective Oct. 1, 2008, see section 4407 of Pub. L. 110–246, set out as a note under section 1161 of Title 2, The Congress.

Effective Date

of 1981 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 97–98 effective on earlier of Sept. 8, 1982, or date such amendment became effective pursuant to section 1338 of Pub. L. 97–98, set out as a note under section 2012 of this title, see section 192(b) of Pub. L. 97–253, set out as a note under section 2012 of this title. Amendment by Pub. L. 97–98 effective upon such date as Secretary of Agriculture may prescribe, taking into account need for orderly implementation, see section 1338 of Pub. L. 97–98, set out as a note under section 2012 of this title.

Effective Date

of 1977 Amendment Pub. L. 95–113, title XIII, § 1301, Sept. 29, 1977, 91 Stat. 958, provided that the amendment made by section 1301 is effective Oct. 1, 1977.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

7 U.S.C. § 2024

Title 7Agriculture

Last Updated

Apr 3, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60