---
kind: "section"
citation: "18 U.S.C. § 1861"
title: "18"
title_heading: "Crimes and Criminal Procedure"
number: "1861"
heading: "Deception of prospective purchasers"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/18/1861"
units:
  - "Part I — Crimes"
  - "Chapter 91 — Public Lands"
---

# §1861. Deception of prospective purchasers


[Whoever](/usc/18/921.md?p=a-1), for a reward paid or promised to him in that behalf, undertakes to locate for an intending purchaser, settler, or entryman any public lands of the [United States](/usc/18/229F.md?p=9) subject to disposition under the public-land laws, and who willfully and falsely represents to such intending purchaser, settler, or entryman that any tract of land shown to him is public land of the [United States](/usc/18/229F.md?p=9) subject to sale, settlement, or entry, or that it is of a particular surveyed description, with intent to deceive the [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) to whom such representation is made, or who, in reckless disregard of the truth, falsely represents to any such [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) that any tract of land shown to him is public land of the [United States](/usc/18/229F.md?p=9) subject to sale, settlement, or entry, or that it is of a particular surveyed description, thereby deceiving the [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) to whom such representation is made, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.


## Source credit

(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 789; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(F), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.)

## Notes

### Historical and Revision Notes

Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 114 (Feb. 23, 1917, ch. 115, 39 Stat. 936).

Words “deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and” which preceded “punished” were omitted as unnecessary in view of definitive section 1 of this title.

Minor changes were made in phraseology.

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $300”.