Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Part I · Chapter 31 — Embezzlement and Theft
§ 654. Officer or employee of United States converting property of another
Statutory text
Whoever, being an officer or employee of the United States or of any department or agency thereof, embezzles or wrongfully converts to his own use the money or property of another which comes into his possession or under his control in the execution of such office or employment, or under color or claim of authority as such officer or employee, shall be fined under this title or not more than the value of the money and property thus embezzled or converted, whichever is greater, or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both; but if the sum embezzled is $1,000 or less, he shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.
Legislative history
Reconstructed from this section’s Code source credit and amendment notes, resolved against the local Statutes at Large. Editorial notes are evidence, not the law that made the change.
Pub. L. 80–645 · 62 Stat. 683
Enacted · 18 U.S.C. § 654
June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 728
Source evidence
Code source credit
June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 728Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994
Pub. L. 103–322 § 330016(2)(H) · 108 Stat. 1796
Substituted · 18 U.S.C. § 654
Pub. L. 103–322, § 330016(2)(H), substituted “shall be fined under this title or not more than the value of the money and property thus embezzled or converted, whichever is greater, or imprisoned” for “shall be fined not more than the value of the money and property thus embezzled or converted, or imprisoned”
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Pub. L. 103–322, § 330016(2)(H), substituted “shall be fined under this title or not more than the value of the money and property thus embezzled or converted, whichever is greater, or imprisoned” for “shall be fined not more than the value of the money and property thus embezzled or converted, or imprisoned”.Enacted provision · exact public law section
(H) in sections 646 and 654 by inserting “under this title or” after “be fined” the first place it appears; and by inserting “whichever is greater,” before “or imprisoned” the first place it appears;Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994
Pub. L. 103–322 § 330016(1)(H) · 108 Stat. 1796
Substituted · 18 U.S.C. § 654
Pub. L. 103–322, § 330016(1)(H), substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $1,000” after “he shall be”
Target inherited from the preceding amendment note.
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Pub. L. 103–322, § 330016(1)(H), substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $1,000” after “he shall be”.Enacted provision · exact public law section
(H) in sections 81, 210, 211, 215, 217, 242, 245, 291, 292, 439, 442, 480, 483, 484, 490, 491, 494, 495, 503, 507, 510, 594, 595, 596, 597, 598, 599, 604, 605, 641, 643, 645, 646, 647, 648, 649, 650, 651, 652, 653, 654, 655, 656, 657, 658, 659, 661, 662, 665, 712, 751, 752, 756, 795, 796, 797, 836, 844, 871, 875, 876, 877, 879, 911, 912, 913, 924, 957, 959, 961, 1003, 1012, 1021, 1025, 1026, 1071, 1112, 1163, 1262, 1263, 1264, 1301, 1302, 1304, 1306, 1341, 1342, 1343, 1361, 1363, 1384, 1504, 1508, 1509, 1657, 1705, 1706, 1707, 1711, 1715, 1716, 1733, 1738, 1761, 1762, 2276, 2277, 2278, 2382, and 2389 by striking “not more than $1,000” each place it appears and inserting “under this title”;Economic Espionage Act of 1996
Pub. L. 104–294 title VI § 606(a) · 110 Stat. 3488
Substituted · 18 U.S.C. § 654
Pub. L. 104–294 substituted “$1,000” for “$100”
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Pub. L. 104–294 substituted “$1,000” for “$100”.Enacted provision · exact public law section
(a) Sections 215, 288, 641, 643, 644, 645, 646, 647, 648, 649, 650, 651, 652, 653, 654, 655, 656, 657, 658, 659, 661, 662, 665, 872, 1003, 1025, 1163, 1361, 1707, 1711, and 2113 of title 18, United States Code, are amended by striking “$100” each place it appears and inserting “$1,000”.
3 of 4 references resolved to an enrolled provision · 1 partial
Notes
Historical and Revision Notes
Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 183 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, § 97, 35 Stat. 1106).
The phrase “Whoever being an officer or agent of the United States or of any department or agency thereof,” was substituted for the words “Any officer connected with, or employed in the Internal Revenue Service of the United States * * * And any officer of the United States, or any assistant of such officer,” in order to clarify scope of section. (See definitive section 6 and reviser’s note thereunder.)
The embezzlement of Government money or property is adequately covered by section 641 of this title.
The smaller punishment for an offense involving $100 or less was added. (See reviser’s notes under sections 641 and 645 of this title.)
Minor changes were made in phraseology.
Editorial Notes
Amendments1994–1996 · 2 rounds
1996
Pub. L. 104–294 substituted “$1,000” for “$100”.
1994
Pub. L. 103–322, § 330016(2)(H), substituted “shall be fined under this title or not more than the value of the money and property thus embezzled or converted, whichever is greater, or imprisoned” for “shall be fined not more than the value of the money and property thus embezzled or converted, or imprisoned”.
Pub. L. 103–322, § 330016(1)(H), substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $1,000” after “he shall be”.
Credits
1948–1996 · 3 acts
- 1948June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 728
- 1994Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(H), (2)(H), , 108 Stat. 2147, 2148
- 1996Pub. L. 104–294, title VI, § 606(a), , 110 Stat. 3511.
Show as published
(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 728; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(H), (2)(H), , 108 Stat. 2147, 2148; Pub. L. 104–294, title VI, § 606(a), , 110 Stat. 3511.)