18 U.S.C. § 153 - Embezzlement against estate

• Cite as: 18 U.S.C. § 153

(a) OFFENSE.-A person described in subsection (b) who knowingly and fraudulently appropriates to the person's own use, embezzles, spends, or transfers any property or secretes or destroys any document belonging to the estate of a debtor shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both.

(b) PERSON TO WHOM SECTION APPLIES.-A person described in this subsection is one who has access to property or documents belonging to an estate by virtue of the person's participation in the administration of the estate as a trustee, custodian, marshal, attorney, or other officer of the court or as an agent, employee, or other person engaged by such an officer to perform a service with respect to the estate.

Cite as 18 U.S.C. § 153

Source: June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 690; Pub. L. 95-598, title III, §314(a)(1), (d) (1), (2), Nov. 6, 1978, 92 Stat. 2676, 2677; Pub. L. 103-322, title XXXIII, §330016(1)(K), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147; Pub. L. 103-394, title III, §312(a)(1)(A), Oct. 22, 1994, 108 Stat. 4139; Pub. L. 104-294, title VI, §601(a)(1), Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3497.

Notes from the Office of Law Revision Counsel

current through 5/22/2023

HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES

Based on section 52(a) of title 11, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Bankruptcy (July 1, 1898, ch. 541, §29a, 30 Stat. 554; May 27, 1926, ch. 406, §11 (part), 44 Stat. 665; June 22, 1938, ch. 575, §1 (part), 52 Stat. 855).

Minor changes were made in phraseology.

EDITORIAL NOTES

AMENDMENTS

1996-Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 104-294 substituted "fined under this title" for "fined not more than $5,000".

1994- Pub. L. 103-394 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section read as follows: "Whoever knowingly and fraudulently appropriates to his own use, embezzles, spends, or transfers any property or secretes or destroys any document belonging to the estate of a debtor which came into his charge as trustee, custodian, marshal, or other officer of the court, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both."