---
kind: "section"
citation: "18 U.S.C. § 666"
title: "18"
title_heading: "Crimes and Criminal Procedure"
number: "666"
heading: "Theft or bribery concerning programs receiving Federal funds"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/18/666"
units:
  - "Part I — Crimes"
  - "Chapter 31 — Embezzlement and Theft"
---

# §666. Theft or bribery concerning programs receiving Federal funds

- (a) [Whoever](/usc/18/921.md?p=a-1), if the circumstance described in [subsection (b)](#b) of this section exists—
  - (1) being an agent of an [organization](/usc/18/2256.md?p=4), or of a [State](/usc/18/31.md?p=a-9), local, or Indian tribal government, or any agency thereof—
    - (A) embezzles, steals, obtains by fraud, or otherwise without authority knowingly converts to the use of any [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) other than the rightful [owner](/usc/18/1839.md?p=4) or intentionally misapplies, property that—
      - (i) is valued at $5,000 or more, and
      - (ii) is owned by, or is under the care, custody, or control of such [organization](/usc/18/2256.md?p=4), government, or agency; or
    - (B) [corruptly](/usc/18/1515.md?p=b) solicits or demands for the benefit of any [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5), or accepts or agrees to accept, anything of value from any [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5), intending to be influenced or rewarded in connection with any business, transaction, or series of transactions of such [organization](/usc/18/2256.md?p=4), government, or agency involving any thing of value of $5,000 or more; or
  - (2) [corruptly](/usc/18/1515.md?p=b) gives, offers, or agrees to give anything of value to any [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5), with intent to influence or reward an agent of an [organization](/usc/18/2256.md?p=4) or of a [State](/usc/18/31.md?p=a-9), local or Indian tribal government, or any agency thereof, in connection with any business, transaction, or series of transactions of such [organization](/usc/18/2256.md?p=4), government, or agency involving anything of value of $5,000 or more;

  shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both.

- (b) The circumstance referred to in [subsection (a)](#a) of this section is that the [organization](/usc/18/2256.md?p=4), government, or agency receives, in any one year period, benefits in excess of $10,000 under a Federal program involving a grant, contract, subsidy, loan, guarantee, insurance, or other form of Federal assistance.
- (c) This section does not apply to bona fide salary, wages, fees, or other compensation paid, or expenses paid or reimbursed, in the usual course of business.
- (d) As used in this section—
  - (1) the term “agent” means a [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) authorized to act on behalf of another [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) or a government and, in the case of an [organization](/usc/18/2256.md?p=4) or government, includes a servant or [employee](/usc/18/202.md?p=c), and a partner, director, [officer](/usc/18/202.md?p=c), manager, and representative;
  - (2) the term “government agency” means a subdivision of the executive, legislative, judicial, or other branch of government, including a department, independent establishment, commission, administration, authority, board, and bureau, and a corporation or other legal entity established, and subject to control, by a government or governments for the execution of a governmental or intergovernmental program;
  - (3) the term “local” means of or pertaining to a political subdivision within a [State](/usc/18/31.md?p=a-9);
  - (4) the term “[State](/usc/18/31.md?p=a-9)” includes a [State](/usc/18/31.md?p=a-9) of the [United States](/usc/18/229F.md?p=9), the District of Columbia, and any commonwealth, territory, or possession of the [United States](/usc/18/229F.md?p=9); and
  - (5) the term “in any one-year period” means a continuous period that commences no earlier than twelve months before the commission of the offense or that ends no later than twelve months after the commission of the offense. Such period may include time both before and after the commission of the offense.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 98–473, title II, § 1104(a), Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 2143; amended Pub. L. 99–646, § 59(a), Nov. 10, 1986, 100 Stat. 3612; Pub. L. 101–647, title XII, §§ 1205(d), 1209, Nov. 29, 1990, 104 Stat. 4831, 4832; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330003(c), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2140.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1994—Subsec. (d)(3) to (5). Pub. L. 103–322 struck out “and” at end of par. (3), substituted “; and” for the period at end of par. (4), and redesignated second par. (4) defining “in any one-year period” as (5).

1990—Subsec. (d)(4). Pub. L. 101–647, § 1209, added par. (4) defining “in any one-year period”.

Pub. L. 101–647, § 1205(d), added par. (4) defining “State”.

1986—Pub. L. 99–646, in amending section generally, made specific reference to applicability of section to agent of Indian tribal government or agency thereof, inserted provision that section does not apply to bona fide salary, wages, fees, or other compensation paid, or expenses paid or reimbursed, in usual course of business, struck out definition of term “organization”, and otherwise revised structure of section.