Source: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2013-title18/html/USCODE-2013-title18-partI-chap9.htm
Timestamp: 2019-04-19 10:29:17+00:00

Document:
Concealment of assets; false oaths and claims; bribery.
Adverse interest and conduct of officers.
Fee agreements in cases under title 11 and receiverships.
Knowing disregard of bankruptcy law or rule.
Designation of United States attorneys and agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation to address abusive reaffirmations of debt and materially fraudulent statements in bankruptcy schedules.
2005—Pub. L. 109–8, title II, §203(b)(2), Apr. 20, 2005, 119 Stat. 49, added item 158.
1994—Pub. L. 103–394, title III, §312(a)(2), Oct. 22, 1994, 108 Stat. 4140, substituted "against estate" for "by trustee or officer" in item 153 and added items 156 and 157.
1978—Pub. L. 95–598, title III, §314(b)(2), (d)(3), (e)(3), (f)(3), Nov. 6, 1978, 92 Stat. 2677, substituted in item 151 "Definition" for "Definitions"; struck from item 153 ", receiver" after "trustee" and from item 154 "referees and other" before "officers"; and substituted in item 155 "cases under title 11 and receiverships" for "bankruptcy proceedings".
As used in this chapter, the term "debtor" means a debtor concerning whom a petition has been filed under title 11.
Based on section 52(f) of title 11, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Bankruptcy (July 1, 1898, ch. 541, §29f as added June 22, 1938, ch. 575, §1, 52 Stat. 857).
Definition of "bankruptcy" was added to avoid repetitious references to said title 11.
Minor changes in phraseology was made.
1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted "means" for "mean".
1978—Pub. L. 95–598 substituted "Definition" for "Definitions" in section catchline, substituted definition of "debtor" as a debtor concerning whom a petition has been filed under title 11 for definition of "bankrupt" as a debtor by or against whom a petition has been filed under title 11, and struck out definition of "bankruptcy" as including any proceeding, arrangement, or plan pursuant to title 11.
Amendment by section 314 of Pub. L. 95–598 not to affect the application of chapter 9 (§151 et seq.), chapter 96 (§1961 et seq.), or section 2516, 3057, or 3284 of this title to any act of any person (1) committed before Oct. 1, 1979, or (2) committed after Oct. 1, 1979, in connection with a case commenced before such date, see section 403(d) of Pub. L. 95–598, set out as a note preceding section 101 of Title 11, Bankruptcy.
Based on section 52(b) of title 11, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Bankruptcy (July 1, 1898, ch. 541, §29b, 30 Stat. 554; May 27, 1926, ch. 406, §11 (part), 44 Stat. 665; June 22, 1938, ch. 575, §1 (part), 52 Stat. 855).
Section was broadened to apply to one who gives or offers a bribe.
1996—Pub. L. 104–294 substituted "fined under this title" for "fined not more than $5,000" in closing provisions.
1994—Pub. L. 103–394 amended section generally, designating undesignated pars. as opening provisions, pars. (1) to (9), and closing provisions, and in pars. (1) and (9) inserting reference to United States Trustee.
Pub. L. 103–322 substituted "fined under this title" for "fined not more than $5,000" in last par.
1988—Pub. L. 100–690 substituted "penalty of perjury" for "penalty or perjury" in third par.
1978—Pub. L. 95–598 substituted, wherever appearing, "debtor" for "bankrupt", "case under title 11" for "bankruptcy proceeding", and "provisions of title 11" for "bankruptcy law"; and substituted "a custodian" for "the receiver, custodian", wherever appearing, and "recorded information, including books, documents, records, and papers, relating to the property or financial affairs" for "document affecting or relating to the property or affairs", in two places.
1976—Pub. L. 94–550 inserted paragraph covering the knowing and fraudulent making of a false declaration, certificate, verification, or statement under penalty of perjury as permitted under section 1746 of title 28 or in relation to any bankruptcy proceeding.
1960—Pub. L. 86–701 included fraudulent transfers and concealment of property by persons in their individual capacity in sixth par.
Pub. L. 86–519 struck out "under oath" after "knowingly and fraudulently presents" in third par.
(a) Offense.—A person described in subsection (b) who knowingly and fraudulently appropriates to the person's own use, embezzles, spends, or transfers any property or secretes or destroys any document belonging to the estate of a debtor shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both.
(b) Person to Whom Section Applies.—A person described in this subsection is one who has access to property or documents belonging to an estate by virtue of the person's participation in the administration of the estate as a trustee, custodian, marshal, attorney, or other officer of the court or as an agent, employee, or other person engaged by such an officer to perform a service with respect to the estate.
Based on section 52(a) of title 11, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Bankruptcy (July 1, 1898, ch. 541, §29a, 30 Stat. 554; May 27, 1926, ch. 406, §11 (part), 44 Stat. 665; June 22, 1938, ch. 575, §1 (part), 52 Stat. 855).
1996—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 104–294 substituted "fined under this title" for "fined not more than $5,000".
1994—Pub. L. 103–394 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section read as follows: "Whoever knowingly and fraudulently appropriates to his own use, embezzles, spends, or transfers any property or secretes or destroys any document belonging to the estate of a debtor which came into his charge as trustee, custodian, marshal, or other officer of the court, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both."
Pub. L. 103–322 substituted "fined under this title" for "fined not more than $5,000".
1978—Pub. L. 95–598 struck out ", receiver" after "trustee" in section catchline and in text struck out "receiver," before "custodian" and substituted "debtor" for "bankrupt".
shall be fined under this title and shall forfeit the person's office, which shall thereupon become vacant.
Based on section 52(c) of title 11, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Bankruptcy (July 1, 1898, ch. 541, §29c, 30 Stat. 554; June 22, 1938, ch. 575, §1 (part), 52 Stat. 856).
"Shall be fined under this title, and shall forfeit his office, which shall thereupon become vacant."
Pub. L. 103–322 substituted "fined under this title" for "fined not more than $500" in third par.
1978—Pub. L. 95–598 struck out "referees and other" before "officers" in section catchline, and in text struck out "Whoever knowingly acts as a referee in a case in which he is directly or indirectly interested; or" before "Whoever, being a" and "referee, receiver," before "custodian" and substituted "case under title 11" for "bankruptcy proceeding".
Whoever, being a party in interest, whether as a debtor, creditor, receiver, trustee or representative of any of them, or attorney for any such party in interest, in any receivership or case under title 11 in any United States court or under its supervision, knowingly and fraudulently enters into any agreement, express or implied, with another such party in interest or attorney for another such party in interest, for the purpose of fixing the fees or other compensation to be paid to any party in interest or to any attorney for any party in interest for services rendered in connection therewith, from the assets of the estate, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.
Words "upon conviction" were deleted as surplusage since punishment can be imposed only after a conviction.
A fine of "$5,000" was substituted for "$10,000" and "one year" for "five years", to reduce the offense to the grade of a misdemeanor and the punishment to an amount and term proportionate to the gravity of the offense.
This amendment [see section 4] clarifies section 155 of title 18, U.S.C., by restating the first paragraph thereof in closer conformity with the original law, as it existed at the time of the enactment of the revision of title 18.
1978—Pub. L. 95–598 substituted "cases under title 11 and receiverships" for "bankruptcy proceedings" in section catchline and in text "or case under title 11" for ", bankruptcy or reorganization proceeding", inserted "knowingly and fraudulently" after "supervision,", and struck out penalty provision for a judge of a United States court to knowingly approve the payment of any fees or compensation that were fixed.
1949—Act May 24, 1949, inserted references to attorneys for any party in interest in three places, and substituted "in any United States court or under its supervision" for "in or under the supervision of any court of the United States".
(2) the term "document for filing" means a petition or any other document prepared for filing by a debtor in a United States bankruptcy court or a United States district court in connection with a case under title 11.
(b) Offense.—If a bankruptcy case or related proceeding is dismissed because of a knowing attempt by a bankruptcy petition preparer in any manner to disregard the requirements of title 11, United States Code, or the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure, the bankruptcy petition preparer shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 1 year, or both.
The Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure, referred to in subsec. (b), are set out in the Appendix to Title 11, Bankruptcy.
2005—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 109–8, in first par., inserted "(1) the term" before " &apos;bankruptcy petition preparer&apos; " and substituted "; and" for period at end and, in second par., inserted "(2) the term" before " &apos;document for filing&apos; " and substituted "title 11" for "this title".
Section effective Oct. 22, 1994, and not applicable with respect to cases commenced under Title 11, Bankruptcy, before Oct. 22, 1994, see section 702 of Pub. L. 103–394, set out as an Effective Date of 1994 Amendment note under section 101 of Title 11.
2010—Par. (1). Pub. L. 111–327, §2(b)(1), struck out "bankruptcy" after "involuntary".
Pars. (2), (3). Pub. L. 111–327, §2(b)(2), struck out ", including a fraudulent involuntary bankruptcy petition under section 303 of such title" after "title 11".
2005—Pars. (1) to (3). Pub. L. 109–8, which directed insertion of ", including a fraudulent involuntary bankruptcy petition under section 303 of such title" after "title 11", was executed by making the insertion after "title 11" wherever appearing, to reflect the probable intent of Congress.
(a) In General.—The Attorney General of the United States shall designate the individuals described in subsection (b) to have primary responsibility in carrying out enforcement activities in addressing violations of section 152 or 157 relating to abusive reaffirmations of debt. In addition to addressing the violations referred to in the preceding sentence, the individuals described under subsection (b) shall address violations of section 152 or 157 relating to materially fraudulent statements in bankruptcy schedules that are intentionally false or intentionally misleading.
(2) an agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation for each field office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
(c) Bankruptcy Investigations.—Each United States attorney designated under this section shall, in addition to any other responsibilities, have primary responsibility for carrying out the duties of a United States attorney under section 3057.
(d) Bankruptcy Procedures.—The bankruptcy courts shall establish procedures for referring any case that may contain a materially fraudulent statement in a bankruptcy schedule to the individuals designated under this section.

References: §203
 §312
 §314
 §29
 §1
 §29
 §11
 §1
 §29
 §11
 §1
 §29
 §1
 §2
 §2