18 U.S.C. § 286
Section 286 · Conspiracy to defraud the Government with respect to claims
Amended 2 times on record
Applied in 328 court decisions — leading case Fidelity Construction Company v. United States (1983)
Most recently applied in United States v. Condron (March 2024)
Cases citing this section usually also cite 18 U.S.C. § 287 · 18 U.S.C. § 3553 · 28 U.S.C. § 1291
How often courts cite this section
Court decisions citing this, by year.Markers show enactment, consequential amendments, and circuit splits over this section — watch for a citation surge after a change or a disagreement. The dip in the last several years is a data-coverage gap, not a real trend — our corpus holds fewer opinions from the most recent years, so recent citations are undercounted.
Whoever enters into any agreement, combination, or conspiracy to defraud the United States, or any department or agency thereof, by obtaining or aiding to obtain the payment or allowance of any false, fictitious or fraudulent claim, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both.
Editorial notes U.S. Code · Office of the Law Revision Counsel
Historical and Revision Notes
Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., §83 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, §35, 35 Stat. 1095; Oct. 23, 1918, ch. 194, 40 Stat. 1015; June 18, 1934, ch. 587, 48 Stat. 996; Apr. 4, 1938, ch. 69, 52 Stat. 197).
To clarify meaning of “department” the word “agency” was inserted after it. (See definitions of “department” and “agency” in section 6 of this title.)
Words “or any corporation in which the United States of America is a stockholder” were omitted as unnecessary in view of definition of “agency” in section 6 of this title.
Minor changes in phraseology were made.
Amendments
1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $10,000”.
Cross References
Conspiracy to defraud United States, generally, see section 371 of this title.
False pension claims, see section 6103 of Title 38, Veterans’ Benefits.
Liability of persons making false claims; suits and procedure; duty of district attorneys; limitation of suits, see sections 3729 to 3731 of Title 31, Money and Finance.
National Service Life Insurance, false or fraudulent statements, see section 1987 of Title 38, Veterans’ Benefits.
Wartime suspension of limitations, see section 3287 of this title.