§ 289. — False claims for pensions.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 18USC289]
TITLE 18--CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
PART I--CRIMES
CHAPTER 15--CLAIMS AND SERVICES IN MATTERS AFFECTING GOVERNMENT
Sec. 289. False claims for pensions
Whoever knowingly and willfully makes, or presents any false,
fictitious or fraudulent affidavit, declaration, certificate, voucher,
endorsement, or paper or writing purporting to be such, concerning any
claim for pension or payment thereof, or pertaining to any other matter
within the jurisdiction of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or
knowingly or willfully makes or presents any paper required as a voucher
in drawing a pension, which paper bears a date subsequent to that upon
which it was actually signed or acknowledged by the pensioner; or
Whoever knowingly and falsely certifies that the declarant, affiant,
or witness named in such declaration, affidavit, voucher, endorsement,
or other paper or writing personally appeared before him and was sworn
thereto, or acknowledged the execution thereof--
Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five
years, or both.
(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 699; Pub. L. 102-54, Sec. 13(f)(1),
June 13, 1991, 105 Stat. 275; Pub. L. 103-322, title XXXIII,
Sec. 330016(1)(L), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.)
Historical and Revision Notes
Based on section 81 of title 18, section 126 of title 38, Pensions,
Bonuses, and Veterans' Relief, and section 787 of title 43, Public
Lands, all of U.S.C., 1940 ed. (R.S. Sec. 4746; July 7, 1898, ch. 578,
30 Stat. 718; Aug. 17, 1912, ch. 301, Sec. 1, 37 Stat. 312; July 3,
1930, ch. 863, Sec. 2, 46 Stat. 1016).
Reference to persons aiding or assisting or causing or procuring was
omitted as unnecessary in view of definition of ``principal'' in section
2 of this title.
Words ``or bounty land'', before ``prosecution of any claim for
pension'', were omitted as obsolete. (See reviser's note under section
290 of this title.)
Upon authority of 1930 enactment words ``Administrator of Veterans'
Affairs'' were substituted for ``Commissioner of Pensions or of the
Secretary of the Interior'', which appeared in 1898 enactment.
The fine was changed from ``$500'' for ``$10,000'' to conform with
punishment provision of section 287 of this title.
Minor changes in phraseology were also made.
Amendments
1994--Pub. L. 103-322 substituted ``fined under this title'' for
``fined not more than $10,000''.
1991--Pub. L. 102-54 substituted ``Secretary of Veterans Affairs''
for ``Administrator of Veterans' Affairs''.