7 U.S.C. § 2024
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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).
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.
The proceeds from any sale of forfeited property and any monies forfeited under this subsection shall be used-
1So in original. Probably should be "possessed".
7 U.S.C. § 2024
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.
AMENDMENTS2018-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 621/2, 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 AMENDMENT Amendment 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 sections 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 AMENDMENT Amendment 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.
- Access device
- "Access device" means any card, plate, code, account number, or other means of access, including point of sale devices, that can be used, alone or in conjunction with another access device, to obtain payments, allotments, benefits, money, goods, or other things of value, or that can be used to initiate a transfer of funds under this chapter.
- Coupon
- "Coupon" means any coupon, stamp, type of certificate, authorization card, cash or check issued in lieu of a coupon.
- Secretary
- "Secretary" means the Secretary of Agriculture.
- State agency
- "State agency" means (1) the agency of State government, including the local offices thereof, which has the responsibility for the administration of the federally aided public assistance programs within such State, and in those States where such assistance programs are operated on a decentralized basis, the term shall include the counterpart local agencies administering such programs, and (2) the tribal organization of an Indian tribe determined by the Secretary to be capable of effectively administering a food distribution program under section 2013(b) of this title or a supplemental nutrition assistance program under section 2020(d) of this title.
- State
- "State" means the fifty States, the District of Columbia, Guam, the Virgin Islands of the United States, and the reservations of an Indian tribe whose tribal organization meets the requirements of this chapter for participation as a State agency.
- Supplemental nutrition assistance program
- "Supplemental nutrition assistance program" means the program operated pursuant to this chapter.