Federal · Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal Procedure

18 U.S.C. § 652: Disbursing officer paying lesser in lieu of lawful amount

Felony

What this law says, in plain English

A federal officer who pays an employee less than legally required while falsifying vouchers for the full amount commits embezzlement, punishable by up to two years imprisonment (or one year if under $1,000).

Read the full statutory text

Whoever, being an officer, clerk, agent, employee, or other person charged with the payment of any appropriation made by Congress, pays to any clerk or other employee of the United States, or of any department or agency thereof, a sum less than that provided by law, and requires such employee to receipt or give a voucher for an amount greater than that actually paid to and received by him, is guilty of embezzlement, and shall be fined under this title or in double the amount so withheld, whichever is greater, or imprisoned not more than two years, or both; but if the amount embezzled is $1,000 or less, he shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.

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.