Federal · Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal Procedure

18 U.S.C. § 1516: Obstruction of Federal audit

Felony

What this law says, in plain English

It is a federal crime to intentionally obstruct or impede a federal auditor performing duties related to entities receiving over $100,000 in U.S. funds or certain HUD-insured property. Violation may result in a fine and/or up to 5 years imprisonment.

Read the full statutory text

Whoever, with intent to deceive or defraud the United States, endeavors to influence, obstruct, or impede a Federal auditor in the performance of official duties relating to a person, entity, or program receiving in excess of $100,000, directly or indirectly, from the United States in any 1 year period under a contract or subcontract, grant, or cooperative agreement, or relating to any property that is security for a mortgage note that is insured, guaranteed, acquired, or held by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development pursuant to any Act administered by the Secretary, or relating to any property that is security for a loan that is made or guaranteed under title V of the Housing Act of 1949, shall be fined under this title, or imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both. the term “Federal auditor” means any person employed on a full- or part-time or contractual basis to perform an audit or a quality assurance inspection for or on behalf of the United States; and the term “in any 1 year period” has the meaning given to the term “in any one-year period” in section 666.

Verify at the official source: Federal legislative text

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This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.