Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/boundvolumes/529bv.pdf
Page Number: 750.0

529US3

Unit: $U55

[09-26-01 13:01:09] PAGES PGT: OPIN

Cite as: 529 U. S. 667 (2000)

675

Opinion of the Court

ate under “recognition of the need of hospitals and other
providers to keep pace with growing needs and to make im-
provements”). The program, then, establishes correlating
and reinforcing incentives: The Government has an interest
in making available a high level of quality of care for the
elderly and disabled; and providers, because of their ﬁnancial
dependence upon the program, have incentives to achieve
program goals. The nature of the program bears on the
question of statutory coverage.

B

Section 666 of Title 18 of the United States Code prohibits
acts of theft and fraud against organizations receiving funds
under federal assistance programs. The statute in relevant
part provides as follows:

“(a) Whoever, if the circumstance described in sub-

section (b) of this section exists—

“(1) being an agent of an organization, or of a State,
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 other than the rightful owner 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 con-

trol of such organization, government, or agency; or

“(B) corruptly solicits or demands for the beneﬁt of
any person, or accepts or agrees to accept, anything of
value from any person, intending to be inﬂuenced or
rewarded in connection with any business, transaction,
or series of transactions of such organization, govern-
ment, or agency involving anything of value of $5,000 or
more; or

“(2) corruptly gives, offers, or agrees to give anything
of value to any person, with intent to inﬂuence or re-