Federal · Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal Procedure

18 U.S.C. § 645: Court officers generally

Felony

What this law says, in plain English

Federal court officers who unlawfully retain or convert money obtained through their official position commit embezzlement, punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment (or 1 year if amount is under $1,000).

Read the full statutory text

Whoever, being a United States marshal, clerk, receiver, referee, trustee, or other officer of a United States court, or any deputy, assistant, or employee of any such officer, retains or converts to his own use or to the use of another or after demand by the party entitled thereto, unlawfully retains any money coming into his hands by virtue of his official relation, position or employment, is guilty of embezzlement and shall, where the offense is not otherwise punishable by enactment of Congress, be fined under this title or not more than double the value of the money so embezzled, whichever is greater, or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both; but if the amount embezzled does not exceed $1,000, he shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both. It shall not be a defense that the accused person had any interest in such moneys or fund.

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.