§2024. Violations and enforcement
(a) Coupon redemption
Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the Secretary may provide for the issuance or presentment for redemption of coupons 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.
(b) Unauthorized use, transfer, acquisition, alteration, or possession of coupons or authorization cards; restitution by convicted individuals
(1) Subject to the provisions of paragraph (2) of this subsection, whoever knowingly uses, transfers, acquires, alters, or possesses coupons, authorization cards, or access devices in any manner contrary to this chapter or the regulations issued pursuant to this chapter shall, 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, if such coupons or authorization cards are of a value of $100 or more, but less than $5,000, or if the item used, transferred, acquired, altered, or possessed is an access device that has a value of $100 or more, but less than $5,000, be guilty of a felony and shall, upon the first conviction thereof, be fined not more than $10,000 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 six months nor more than five years and may also be fined not more than $10,000 or, if such coupons or authorization cards are of a value of less than $100, or if the item used, transferred, acquired, altered, or processed is an access device that has 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 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.
(2) In the case of any individual convicted of an offense under paragraph (1) of this subsection, the court may permit such individual to perform work approved by the court for the purpose of providing restitution for losses incurred by the United States and the State agency as a result of the offense for which such individual was convicted. If the court permits such individual to perform such work and such individual agrees thereto, the court shall withhold the imposition of the sentence on the condition that such individual perform the assigned work. Upon the successful completion of the assigned work the court may suspend such sentence.
(c) Presentation for payment or redemption of coupons that have been illegally received, transferred, or used
Whoever presents, or causes to be presented, coupons 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 coupons 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 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.
(d) Coupons as obligations of the United States
Coupons issued pursuant to this chapter shall be deemed to be obligations of the United States within the meaning of section 8 of title 18.
(e) Failure to provide monthly operations report; violation of regulations; delivery and control procedures
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.
(f) Liability for financial losses involved in acceptance, storage, and issuance of coupons
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.
(g) Forfeiture of property involved in illegal food stamp transactions
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 or intended to be furnished by any person in exchange for coupons, authorization cards or access devices, 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.
(Pub. L. 88 525, §15, Aug. 31, 1964,
Amendments
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 62½, 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).
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
Section 1301 of Pub. L. 95 113 provided that the amendment made by that section is effective Oct. 1, 1977.
Section Referred to in Other Sections
This section is referred to in title 26 section 6109; title 42 section 405.