18 USC § 291 - Purchase of claims for fees by court officials

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t18/s291"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "18 USC § 291 - Purchase of claims for fees by court officials"
title_number: 18
title_name: "CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE"
section_number: "291"
section_name: "Purchase of claims for fees by court officials"
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. 699; Pub. L. 90–578, title IV, § 402(b)(2), Oct. 17, 1968, 82 Stat. 1118; Pub. L. 101–650, title III, § 321, Dec. 1, 1990, 104 Stat. 5117; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(H), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.)"
---


# § 291. Purchase of claims for fees by court officials

Whoever, being a judge, clerk, or deputy clerk of any court of the United States or a Territory or Possession thereof, or a United States district attorney, assistant attorney, marshal, deputy marshal, magistrate judge, or other person holding any office or employment, or position of trust or profit under the United States, directly or indirectly purchases at less than the full face value thereof, any claim against the United States for the fee, mileage, or expenses of any witness, juror, deputy marshal, or any other officer of such court, shall be fined under this title.

---

**Source Credit**: (June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 699; Pub. L. 90–578, title IV, § 402(b)(2), Oct. 17, 1968, 82 Stat. 1118; Pub. L. 101–650, title III, § 321, Dec. 1, 1990, 104 Stat. 5117; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(H), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.)

### Historical and Revision Notes

Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 193 (, ).

Word “Possession” was inserted to clarify scope of section.

Minor changes were made in phraseology.

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1994— substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $1,000”.

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Change of Name

Words “magistrate judge” substituted for “magistrate” in text pursuant to , set out as a note under , Judiciary and Judicial Procedure. Previously, “magistrate” substituted for “commissioner” pursuant to . See chapter 43 (§ 631 et seq.) of Title 28.