CITE

    18 USC Sec. 551                                             01/05/2009

EXPCITE

    TITLE 18 - CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
    PART I - CRIMES
    CHAPTER 27 - CUSTOMS

HEAD

    Sec. 551. Concealing or destroying invoices or other papers

STATUTE

      Whoever willfully conceals or destroys any invoice, book, or
    paper relating to any merchandise imported into the United States,
    after an inspection thereof has been demanded by the collector of
    any collection district; or
      Whoever conceals or destroys at any time any such invoice, book,
    or paper for the purpose of suppressing any evidence of fraud
    therein contained -
      Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two
    years, or both.

SOURCE

    (June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 718; Pub. L. 103-322, title
    XXXIII, Sec. 330016(1)(K), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.)

HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES

      Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Sec. 120 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch.
    321, Sec. 64, 35 Stat. 1100).
      Minor changes were made in phraseology.
                                AMENDMENTS
      1994 - Pub. L. 103-322 substituted "fined under this title" for
    "fined not more than $5,000" in last par.

TRANSFER OF FUNCTIONS

      All offices of collector of customs, comptroller of customs,
    surveyor of customs, and appraiser of merchandise in Bureau of
    Customs of Department of the Treasury to which appointments were
    required to be made by President with advice and consent of Senate
    ordered abolished, with such offices to be terminated not later
    than Dec. 31, 1966, by Reorg. Plan No. 1 of 1965, eff. May 25,
    1965, 30 F.R. 7035, 79 Stat. 1317, set out in the Appendix to Title
    5, Government Organization and Employees. All functions of offices
    eliminated were already vested in Secretary of the Treasury by
    Reorg. Plan No. 26 of 1950, eff. July 31, 1950, 15 F.R. 4935, 64
    Stat. 1280, set out in the Appendix to Title 5.