About the Law

Federal prosecutors frequently choose to charge individual defendants with a variety of crimes under a number of different statutes. An illegal alien who is caught while negotiating a drug deal, for example, might be indicted for drug dealing, numerous conspiracy offenses, as well as immigration violations. During the data collection process, the Justice Department asks the prosecutors to select the "lead charge" on all referrals that they handle. Obviously, these judgments often are somewhat subjective when multiple serious charges are involved. Sometimes, they are influenced by the political needs of the moment: an administration, for example, that wants to show the public it is concentrating on narcotics or illegal immigrants along the southwest border.

Here then, as viewed through the lens of federal prosecutors across the country, are those "lead charges" which resulted in prosecutions or convictions either in the most recent month or most recently completed fiscal year. Click on the statute of interest from the following table to obtain the complete text as well as links to exclusive TRAC Reports on these frequently cited lead charges.

U.S. Code Description
 05 USC 00552 Violation of privacy act by a federal employee
 07 USC 00136 Environmental Pesticide Control - definitions
 07 USC 02024 Food Stamp Program - Violations and Enforcement
 07 USC 02156 Animal Fighting Venture Prohibited
 08 USC 01253 Alien hindering his/her removal from the US
 08 USC 01306 Immigration - Penalties
 08 USC 01323 Unlawful bringing of aliens into US
 08 USC 01324 Bringing in and harboring certain aliens
 08 USC 01324a Unlawful employment of aliens
 08 USC 01325 Entry of alien at improper time or place; etc.
 08 USC 01326 Reentry of deported alien
 13 USC 00305 Unlawful Export Information Activities
 14 USC 00088 Coast Guard - Saving Life and Property
 15 USC 00001 Trusts, etc., in restraint of trade illegal; penal
 15 USC 00077x Securities Violations
 15 USC 00078j Use/employ any manipulative/deceptive device/ in contravention
 15 USC 00645 Aid to Small Businesses - Offenses and penalties
 15 USC 02615 Toxic Substances Control - Penalties
 16 USC 00045 Violations of park regulations; penalty
 16 USC 00003 Charges and fees; permits;
 16 USC 00470 Archeological Resource Protection
 16 USC 00668 Bald and golden eagles
 16 USC 00703 Taking, killing, or possessing migratory birds
 16 USC 00704 When/how migratory birds may be taken, killed,poss
 16 USC 00707 Migratory Birds - violation penalties; forfeitures
 16 USC 00718 Protection of Migratory Game & Insectivorous Birds
 16 USC 01372 Marine Mammal Protection - Prohibitions
 16 USC 01538 Endangered Species - Prohibitive acts
 16 USC 03372 Illegally Taken Fish & Wildlife - prohibited acts
 16 USC 03373 Illegally Taken Fish & Wildlife - penalties, sanct
 17 USC 00506 Copyright infringement - Criminal offenses
 18 USC 00002 Aiding and Abetting
 18 USC 00003 Accessory after the fact
 18 USC 00004 Misprision of Felony
 18 USC 00007 Special Maritime/Territorial Jurisdiction of US
 18 USC 00013 Laws of States Adopted in Federal jurisdiction
 18 USC 00019 Petty Offense Defined
 18 USC 00032 Destruction of aircraft or aircraft facilities
 18 USC 00033 Destruction of motor vehicles or motor vehicle fac
 18 USC 00042 Importation/shipment of animals
 18 USC 00081 Arson in special maritime and territorial jurisdic
 18 USC 00111 Assaulting, resisting, impeding certain officers
 18 USC 00113 Assaults within maritime and territorial jurisdictions
 18 USC 00114 Maiming in maritime and territorial jurisdictions
 18 USC 00115 Influencing, impeding, or retaliating against a Federal official
 18 USC 00117 Domestic assault by an habitual offender
 18 USC 00152 Concealment of assets; false oaths and claims; etc
 18 USC 00153 Embezzlement by trustee or officer
 18 USC 00157 Bankruptcy Fraud
 18 USC 00175 Prohibitions with respect to biological weapons
 18 USC 00201 Bribery of public officials and witnesses
 18 USC 00208 Acts affecting a personal financial interest
 18 USC 00231 Civil Disorders
 18 USC 00241 Conspiracy against rights
 18 USC 00242 Deprivation of rights under color of law
 18 USC 00245 Federally protected activities
 18 USC 00247 Damage to religious prop; obstruct religious excer
 18 USC 00248 Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrance
 18 USC 00249 Hate crime acts
 18 USC 00286 Conspiracy to defraud the Government claims
 18 USC 00287 False, fictitious or fraudulent claims
 18 USC 00351 Assassination/kidnapping certain officials
 18 USC 00371 Conspiracy to commit offense or to defraud US
 18 USC 00373 Solicitation to commit a crime of violence
 18 USC 00401 Power of Court
 18 USC 00402 Contempts constituting crimes
 18 USC 00470 Counterfeit acts committed outside U.S.
 18 USC 00471 Obligations or securities of United States
 18 USC 00472 Uttering counterfeit obligations or securities
 18 USC 00473 Dealing in counterfeit obligations or securities
 18 USC 00500 Money orders
 18 USC 00505 Seals of courts; signatures of judges or court off
 18 USC 00510 Forging endorsements on Treasury checks, bonds se
 18 USC 00511 Altering or removing motor vehicle id numbers
 18 USC 00513 Securities of the States and private entities
 18 USC 00542 Entry of goods by means of false statements
 18 USC 00545 Smuggling goods into the United States
 18 USC 00546 Smuggling goods into foreign countries
 18 USC 00549 Removing goods from customs custody; breaking seal
 18 USC 00554 Smuggling goods from the United States
 18 USC 00641 Public money, property or records
 18 USC 00654 Officer or employee of US converting property
 18 USC 00656 Theft/embezzlement/misapplication by bank off, emp
 18 USC 00657 Lending, credit and insurance institutions
 18 USC 00658 Property mortgaged/pledged to farm credit agency
 18 USC 00659 Interstate or foreign shipments by carriers
 18 USC 00661 Embezzelement/theft in special jurisdictions
 18 USC 00664 Theft or embezzlement from employee benefit plan
 18 USC 00665 Theft or embezzlement from employment/trning funds
 18 USC 00666 Theft or bribery in programs receiving Fed funds
 18 USC 00669 Theft/Embezzlement - Health Care
 18 USC 00701 Official badges, id cards, other insignia
 18 USC 00751 Escape - Prisoners in custody
 18 USC 00752 Instigating or assisting escape
 18 USC 00758 High speed flight from immigration checkpoint
 18 USC 00793 Gathering/transmitting/losing defense information
 18 USC 00798 Disclosure of classified information
 18 USC 00842 Explosives - Importation, manufacture, etc
 18 USC 00844 Explosives - Importation and storage of explosives
 18 USC 00846 Explosives - Additional powers of the Secretary
 18 USC 00871 Threats against President and successors
 18 USC 00873 Blackmail
 18 USC 00875 Interstate Communications
 18 USC 00876 Mailing threatening communications
 18 USC 00911 False personification - Citizen of the US
 18 USC 00912 False personification - Officer or employee of US
 18 USC 00922 Firearms; Unlawful acts
 18 USC 00923 Firearms; Licensing
 18 USC 00924 Firearms; Penalties
 18 USC 00930 Possession of firearms/dangerous weapons in federal facility
 18 USC 00931 Prohibition on purchase,ownership,possession of body armor by felons
 18 USC 00951 Agents of foreign governments
 18 USC 00952 Diplomatic codes and correspondence
 18 USC 00956 Conspire to kill/kidnap/maim person or damage property foreign country
 18 USC 01001 Fraud/false statements or entries generally
 18 USC 01003 Fraud - Demands against the United States
 18 USC 01005 Fraud - Bank entries, reports and transactions
 18 USC 01014 Fraud - Loan and credit applications etc
 18 USC 01015 Fraud - Natzation, citizenship, alien registry
 18 USC 01028 Fraud and related activity - id documents
 18 USC 01028A Aggravated Identity Theft
 18 USC 01029 Fraud and related activity - access devices
 18 USC 01030 Fraud and related activity - computers
 18 USC 01031 Making fraud against the United States
 18 USC 01035 False claims relating to health care matters
 18 USC 01037 Fraud and Related Activity in Connection with Electronic Mail
 18 USC 01038 False Information and Hoaxes
 18 USC 01040 Fraud in connection with major disaster or emergency benefits
 18 USC 01071 Concealing person from arrest
 18 USC 01073 Flight to Avoid Prosecution or Giving Testimony
 18 USC 01084 Gambling ships - transmit of wagering information
 18 USC 01111 Murder
 18 USC 01112 Manslaughter
 18 USC 01113 Attempt to commit murder or manslaughter
 18 USC 01114 Protection of officers and employees of US
 18 USC 01115 Misconduct or neglect of ship officers
 18 USC 01117 Conspiracy to murder
 18 USC 01153 Offenses committed within Indian country
 18 USC 01163 Embezzlement and theft from Indian Tribal organiza
 18 USC 01167 Theft from gaming establishments on Indian lands
 18 USC 01168 Insider Theft of gaming establishments Indian land
 18 USC 01201 Kidnaping
 18 USC 01203 Kidnapping - Hostage taking
 18 USC 01204 International parental kidnapping
 18 USC 01341 Mail Fraud - Frauds and swindles
 18 USC 01342 Mail Fraud - Fictitious name or address
 18 USC 01343 Fraud by wire, radio, or television
 18 USC 01344 Bank Fraud
 18 USC 01346 Scheme or artifice to defraud
 18 USC 01347 Health Care Fraud
 18 USC 01348 Securities Fraud
 18 USC 01349 Mail Fraud - Attempt and Conspiracy
 18 USC 01361 Malicious Mischief - Govrnmt property or contracts
 18 USC 01362 Malicious Mischief - communications
 18 USC 01363 Buildings or property within special maritime/territorial jurisdiction
 18 USC 01365 Tampering with consumer products
 18 USC 01366 Destruction of an energy facility
 18 USC 01382 Entering military, naval, or Coast Guard property
 18 USC 01425 Procurement of citizenship or naturalization unlaw
 18 USC 01462 Importation of transportation of obscene matters
 18 USC 01470 Transfer of obscene materials to minors
 18 USC 01503 Influencing or injuring officer or juror generally
 18 USC 01505 Obstruction of proceedings before departments, etc
 18 USC 01510 Obstruction of criminal investigations
 18 USC 01511 Obstruction of State or local law enforcement
 18 USC 01512 Tampering with a witness, victim, or an informant
 18 USC 01513 Retaliating against a witness, victim or informant
 18 USC 01519 Destruct, alter, falsify records in fed. investigations and bankruptcy
 18 USC 01521 Retaliate against federal judge/law enforcement false claim/slander
 18 USC 01542 False statement in application and use of passport
 18 USC 01543 Forgery or false use of passport
 18 USC 01544 Misuse of passport
 18 USC 01546 Fraud and misuse of visas, permits, and other documents
 18 USC 01581 Peonage; obstructing enforcement
 18 USC 01589 Forced Labor
 18 USC 01591 Sex trafficking of children by force, fraud or coercion
 18 USC 01594 Attempted Forced Labor
 18 USC 01621 Perjury generally
 18 USC 01623 False declarations before grand jury or court
 18 USC 01700 Desertion of mails
 18 USC 01701 Obstruction of mails generally
 18 USC 01702 Obstruction of correspondence
 18 USC 01703 Delay or destruction of mail or newspapers
 18 USC 01704 Postal keys or locks stolen or reproduced
 18 USC 01705 Destruction of letter boxes or mail
 18 USC 01707 Theft of property used by Postal Service
 18 USC 01708 Theft or receipt of stolen mail matter generally
 18 USC 01709 Theft of mail matter by officer or employee
 18 USC 01711 Misappropriation of postal funds
 18 USC 01752 Temporary residence and office of President, etc.
 18 USC 01791 Providing or possessing contraband in prison
 18 USC 01832 Theft of trade secrets
 18 USC 01855 Public lands - Timber set afire
 18 USC 01856 Public lands - Fires unattended and unextinguished
 18 USC 01920 False statement - Fed employees compensation
 18 USC 01951 Hobbs Act
 18 USC 01952 Racketeering -interstate/foreign travel/transport
 18 USC 01955 Prohibition of illegal gambling businesses
 18 USC 01956 Laundering of monetary instruments
 18 USC 01957 Monetary transactions w/property from unlawful act
 18 USC 01958 Interstate commerce facilities - murder for hire
 18 USC 01959 Violent crimes in aid of racketeering activity
 18 USC 01960 Prohibition of illegal money transmitting business
 18 USC 01961 RICO - definitions
 18 USC 01962 RICO - prohibited activities
 18 USC 01992 Wrecking trains
 18 USC 02073 False entries and reports of moneys or securities
 18 USC 02101 Riots
 18 USC 02111 Robbery/burglary - Special jurisdiction
 18 USC 02112 Robbery - Personal property of United States
 18 USC 02113 Bank robbery and incidental crimes
 18 USC 02114 Mail, money, or other property of United States
 18 USC 02115 Robbery - Post office
 18 USC 02117 Breaking or entering carrier facilities
 18 USC 02118 Robberies/burglaries w/controlled substances
 18 USC 02119 Carjacking
 18 USC 02197 Seamen - misuse of Federal certificate, etc
 18 USC 02237 Criminal Sanction for Failure to heave to or provide false information
 18 USC 02241 Aggravated sexual abuse
 18 USC 02242 Sexual abuse
 18 USC 02243 Sexual abuse of a minor or ward
 18 USC 02244 Abusive sexual contact
 18 USC 02250 Fail to register as sex offender after traveling interstate commerce
 18 USC 02251 Sexual exploitation of children
 18 USC 02251A Selling or buying children
 18 USC 02252 Material involving sexual exploitation of minors
 18 USC 02252A Activity relating material constituting/containing chil
 18 USC 02256 Sexual exploitation/other abuse of children
 18 USC 02261 Interstate domestic violence
 18 USC 02261A Stalking
 18 USC 02262 Interstate violation of a protective order
 18 USC 02312 Transportation of stolen vehicles
 18 USC 02313 Sale or receipt of stolen vehicles
 18 USC 02314 Transportation of stolen goods, etc
 18 USC 02315 Sale or receipt of stolen goods, etc
 18 USC 02319 Criminal infringement of a copyright
 18 USC 02320 Trafficking in counterfeit goods or services
 18 USC 02321 Trafficking in certain motor vehicles or parts
 18 USC 02322 Chop shops
 18 USC 02331 Terrorism Violation
 18 USC 02332 Terrorism - Criminal penalties
 18 USC 02339 Harboring or Concealing Terrorists
 18 USC 02339A Providing material support to terrorists
 18 USC 02339B Provide material support to foreign terrorist orgs
 18 USC 02342 Trafficking in contraband cigarettes Unlawful acts
 18 USC 02384 Seditious conspiracy
 18 USC 02421 Transportation for illegal sexual activity and related crimes
 18 USC 02422 Transport for sex - Coercion and enticement
 18 USC 02423 Transportation of minors for sexual activity
 18 USC 03048 Commitment to another district; removal--Rule 40
 18 USC 03144 Release or detention of a material witness
 18 USC 03146 Penalty for failure to appear
 18 USC 03148 Sanctions for violation of a release
 18 USC 03184 Fugitives from Foreign Country to United States
 18 USC 03565 Revocation of probation
 18 USC 03583 Term of supervised release after imprisonment
 18 USC 03605 Transfer of probation jurisdiction
 18 USC 03606 Arrest and return of a probationer
 18 USC 03665 Firearms possessed by convicted felons
 18 USC 04082 Commitment to AG; residential treatment
 19 USC 01459 Reporting requirements for individuals
 20 USC 01097 Higher education Resources & Student Assistance
 21 USC 00331 Fed Food, Drug & Cosmetics Act - Prohibited acts
 21 USC 00333 Fed Food, Drug & Cosmetics Act - Penalties
 21 USC 00610 Meat Inspection - prohibited acts
 21 USC 00841 Drug Abuse Prevention & Control-Prohibited acts A
 21 USC 00842 Drug Abuse Prevention & Control-Prohibited acts B
 21 USC 00843 Drug Abuse Prevention & Control-Prohibited acts C
 21 USC 00844 Penalty for simple possession
 21 USC 00846 Attempt and conspiracy
 21 USC 00848 Continuing criminal enterprise
 21 USC 00853 Criminal forfeitures
 21 USC 00856 Establishment for manufacturing operations
 21 USC 00860 Distribution or manufacturing in or near schools a
 21 USC 00863 Drug paraphernalia
 21 USC 00952 Importation of controlled substances
 21 USC 00953 Exportation of controlled substances
 21 USC 00959 Possession, manufacture, or distribution for purpo
 21 USC 00960 Prohibited acts A
 21 USC 00963 Attempt and conspiracy
 22 USC 02778 Control of arms exports and imports
 26 USC 05601 Distilled Spirits, etc - Criminal penalties
 26 USC 05841 Registration of firearms
 26 USC 05845 Tax on Making Firearms
 26 USC 05861 Tax on Making Firearms - Prohibited acts
 26 USC 06103 Confidentiality/disclosure of returns/return info
 26 USC 07201 Attempt to evade or defeat tax
 26 USC 07202 Willful failure to collect or pay over tax
 26 USC 07203 Willful failure to file return, supply information
 26 USC 07206 Fraud and False statements
 26 USC 07207 Fraudulent returns, statements, or other documents
 26 USC 07212 Attempts to interfere with admin of tax laws
 26 USC 07213 Unauthorized disclosure of information
 29 USC 00439 Labor orgs - Violations and penalties
 29 USC 00501 Fiduciary responsibility - officers of labor orgs
 29 USC 00666 Occupational safety and health - penalties
 30 USC 00820 Mine Safety and Health - Penalties
 31 USC 05316 Exporting and importing monetary instruments
 31 USC 05324 Structuring transactions to evade reporting requir
 31 USC 05332 Bulk Cash Smuggling into or out of the United States
 33 USC 01319 Water Pollution - Enforcement
 33 USC 01321 Oil and hazardous substance liability
 33 USC 01908 Prevention of Pollution from Ships - Penalties
 38 USC 06101 VA Benefits - Misappropriation by fiduciaries
 40 USC 05104 Unlawful Activities
 42 USC 00408 Fed Old Age, Survivors & Disab Insur -Penalties
 42 USC 01307 Social Security - Penalty for fraud
 42 USC 01383 Social Security -Procedure for payment of benefits
 42 USC 01383a Fraudulent acts; penalties; restitution
 42 USC 03631 Fair Housing, violations, etc.
 42 USC 06928 Hazardous Waste Management - Federal Enforcement
 42 USC 07413 Air Pollution Prevention and Control - Fed strd
 43 USC 01733 Federal Land Policy/Management - Enforcement Authority
 46 USC 70503 Possession control substance on vessel subject to jurisdiction of US
 46 USC 70506 Penalties
 47 USC 00223 Obscene or harrassing telephone calls
 49 USC 05124 Hazard Materials Transportation Uniform Safety Act
 49 USC 32703 Preventing Tampering (Odometers)
 49 USC 46306 Aircraft Registration Violations
 49 USC 46314 Entering aircraft or airport area in violation of security
 49 USC 46503 Interference with Security Screening Personnel
 49 USC 46504 Interference with flight crew members and attendants
 49 USC 46505 Carrying a Weapon or Explosive on an Aircraft
 49 USC 46506 Application of Criminal Laws to Acts on Aircraft
 50 USC 00797 Control of Subversive Activities
 50 USC 01701 War and National Defense - Unusual and extraordinary threat
 50 USC 01702 War and National Defense - Presidential Authorities
 50 USC 01705 International Emergency Economic Powers
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