18 USC § 917 - Red Cross members or agents

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t18/s917"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "18 USC § 917 - Red Cross members or agents"
title_number: 18
title_name: "CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE"
section_number: "917"
section_name: "Red Cross members or agents"
chapter_number: 43
chapter_name: "FALSE PERSONATION"
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. 743; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(G), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147; Pub. L. 107–56, title X, § 1011(c), Oct. 26, 2001, 115 Stat. 396.)"
---


# § 917. Red Cross members or agents

Whoever, within the United States, falsely or fraudulently holds himself out as or represents or pretends himself to be a member of or an agent for the American National Red Cross for the purpose of soliciting, collecting, or receiving money or material, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both.

---

**Source Credit**: (June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 743; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(G), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147; Pub. L. 107–56, title X, § 1011(c), Oct. 26, 2001, 115 Stat. 396.)

### Historical and Revision Notes

Based on , U.S.C., 1940 ed., Patriotic Societies and Observances (, ; , ).

, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Patriotic Societies and Observances, was divided into this section and .

Reference to “jurisdiction” of the United States was omitted as unnecessary in view of definition of “United States” in .

Reference to offense as a misdemeanor was omitted in view of definitive .

Words “upon conviction thereof” were omitted as punishment cannot be imposed until conviction is secured.

Minor changes were made in phraseology.

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2001— substituted “5 years” for “one year”.

1994— substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $500”.