---
kind: "section"
citation: "18 U.S.C. § 217"
title: "18"
title_heading: "Crimes and Criminal Procedure"
number: "217"
heading: "Acceptance of consideration for adjustment of farm indebtedness"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/18/217"
units:
  - "Part I — Crimes"
  - "Chapter 11 — Bribery, Graft, and Conflicts of Interest"
---

# §217. Acceptance of consideration for adjustment of farm indebtedness


[Whoever](/usc/18/921.md?p=a-1), being an [officer or employee](/usc/18/202.md?p=a) of, or [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) acting for the [United States](/usc/18/229F.md?p=9) or any agency thereof, accepts any fee, commission, gift, or other consideration in connection with the compromise, adjustment, or cancellation of any farm indebtedness as provided by sections [1150](/usc/12/1150.md), [1150a](/usc/12/1150a.md), and [1150b](/usc/12/1150b.md) of Title 12, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.


## Source credit

(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 696, § 217, formerly § 222; renumbered § 217, Pub. L. 87–849, § 1(d), Oct. 23, 1962, 76 Stat. 1125; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(H), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.)

## Notes

### Historical and Revision Notes

Based on section 1150c(b) of title 12, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Banks and Banking (Dec. 20, 1944, ch. 623, § 4(b), 58 Stat. 837).

Words “upon conviction thereof” were omitted as surplusage, since punishment cannot be imposed until after conviction.

Other changes were made in phraseology without change of substance.

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 217 was renumbered section 212 of this title and subsequently repealed.

### Amendments

1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $1,000”.