18 USC § 286 - Conspiracy to defraud the Government with respect to claims

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t18/s286"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "18 USC § 286 - Conspiracy to defraud the Government with respect to claims"
title_number: 18
title_name: "CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE"
section_number: "286"
section_name: "Conspiracy to defraud the Government with respect to claims"
chapter_number: 15
chapter_name: "CLAIMS AND SERVICES IN MATTERS AFFECTING GOVERNMENT"
part_number: "I"
part_name: "CRIMES"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-21"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 698; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(L), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.)"
---


# § 286. Conspiracy to defraud the Government with respect to claims

Whoever enters into any agreement, combination, or conspiracy to defraud the United States, or any department or agency thereof, by obtaining or aiding to obtain the payment or allowance of any false, fictitious or fraudulent claim, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both.

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**Source Credit**: (June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 698; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(L), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.)

### Historical and Revision Notes

Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 83 (, ; , ; , ; , ).

To clarify meaning of “department” the word “agency” was inserted after it. (See definitions of “department” and “agency” in .)

Words “or any corporation in which the United States of America is a stockholder” were omitted as unnecessary in view of definition of “agency” in .

Minor changes in phraseology were made.

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1994— substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $10,000”.