18 USC § 1346 - Definition of “scheme or artifice to defraud”

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t18/s1346"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "18 USC § 1346 - Definition of “scheme or artifice to defraud”"
title_number: 18
title_name: "CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE"
section_number: "1346"
section_name: "Definition of “scheme or artifice to defraud”"
chapter_number: 63
chapter_name: "MAIL FRAUD AND OTHER FRAUD OFFENSES"
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: "(Added Pub. L. 100–690, title VII, § 7603(a), Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4508.)"
---


# § 1346. Definition of “scheme or artifice to defraud”

For the purposes of this chapter, the term “scheme or artifice to defraud” includes a scheme or artifice to deprive another of the intangible right of honest services.

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**Source Credit**: (Added Pub. L. 100–690, title VII, § 7603(a), Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4508.)