---
kind: "section"
citation: "18 U.S.C. § 291"
title: "18"
title_heading: "Crimes and Criminal Procedure"
number: "291"
heading: "Purchase of claims for fees by court officials"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/18/291"
units:
  - "Part I — Crimes"
  - "Chapter 15 — Claims and Services in Matters Affecting Government"
---

# §291. Purchase of claims for fees by court officials


[Whoever](/usc/18/921.md?p=a-1), being a judge, clerk, or deputy clerk of any court of the [United States](/usc/18/229F.md?p=9) or a Territory or Possession thereof, or a [United States](/usc/18/229F.md?p=9) district attorney, assistant attorney, marshal, deputy marshal, magistrate judge, or other [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) holding any office or employment, or position of trust or profit under the [United States](/usc/18/229F.md?p=9), directly or indirectly purchases at less than the full face value thereof, any claim against the [United States](/usc/18/229F.md?p=9) for the fee, mileage, or expenses of any witness, juror, deputy marshal, or any other [officer](/usc/18/202.md?p=c) of such court, shall be fined under this title.


## Source credit

(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 699; Pub. L. 90–578, title IV, § 402(b)(2), Oct. 17, 1968, 82 Stat. 1118; Pub. L. 101–650, title III, § 321, Dec. 1, 1990, 104 Stat. 5117; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(H), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.)

## Notes

### Historical and Revision Notes

Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 193 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, § 104, 35 Stat. 1107).

Word “Possession” was inserted to clarify scope of section.

Minor changes were made in phraseology.

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

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

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Change of Name

Words “magistrate judge” substituted for “magistrate” in text pursuant to section 321 of Pub. L. 101–650, set out as a note under section 631 of Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure. Previously, “magistrate” substituted for “commissioner” pursuant to Pub. L. 90–578. See chapter 43 (§ 631 et seq.) of Title 28.