§ 2024. Violations and enforcement

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(a)In general 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.

(b)Unauthorized use, transfer, acquisition, alteration, or possession of benefits

(1)Subject to the provisions of paragraph

(2)of this subsection, whoever knowingly uses, transfers, acquires, alters, or possesses benefits in any manner contrary to this chapter or the regulations issued pursuant to this chapter shall, if such benefits 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 benefits are of a value of $100 or more, but less than $5,000, or if the item used, transferred, acquired, altered, or possessed is a benefit 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 benefits are of a value of less than $100, or if the item used, transferred, acquired, altered, or processed 1 is a benefit 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 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.

(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 benefits that have been illegally received, transferred, or used 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.

(d)Benefits as obligations of the United States 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.

(e)Forfeiture of property involved in illegal benefit 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 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.

(f)Criminal forfeiture

(1)In general 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).

(2)Property subject to forfeiture 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).

(3)Interest of owner 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.

(4)Proceeds The proceeds from any sale of forfeited property and any monies forfeited under this subsection shall be used—

(A)first, to reimburse the Department of Justice for the costs incurred by the Department to initiate and complete the forfeiture proceeding;

(B)second, to reimburse the Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General for any costs the Office incurred in the law enforcement effort resulting in the forfeiture;

(C)third, to reimburse any Federal or State law enforcement agency for any costs incurred in the law enforcement effort resulting in the forfeiture; and

(D)fourth, by the Secretary to carry out the approval, reauthorization, and compliance investigations of retail stores and wholesale food concerns under section 2018 of this title.

(Pub. L. 88–525, § 15, Aug. 31, 1964, 78 Stat. 708; Pub. L. 91–671, § 8, Jan. 11, 1971, 84 Stat. 2052; Pub. L. 93–347, § 2, July 12, 1974, 88 Stat. 341; Pub. L. 95–113, title XIII, § 1301, Sept. 29, 1977, 91 Stat. 975; Pub. L. 96–249, title I, § 124, May 26, 1980, 94 Stat. 363; Pub. L. 97–98, title XIII, § 1324, Dec. 22, 1981, 95 Stat. 1288; Pub. L. 101–624, title XVII, §§ 1747(a), (c), 1748, 1749, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 3796, 3797; Pub. L. 104–193, title VIII, § 846, Aug. 22, 1996, 110 Stat. 2334;

Pub. L. 110–234, title IV, §§ 4001(b), 4115(b)(10), May 22, 2008 122 Stat. 1092, 1107; Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a), title IV, §§ 4001(b), 4115(b)(10), June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664, 1853, 1869; Pub. L. 113–79, title IV, § 4030(h), Feb. 7, 2014, 128 Stat. 814; Pub. L. 115–334, title IV, § 4022(6), Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4653.)

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