Court officers depositing registry moneys
Official text prohibited actmental stateif conditionpenaltylegal term
Whoever, being a clerk or other officer of a court of the United States, fails to deposit promptly any money belonging in the registry of the court, or paid into court or received by the officers thereof, with the Treasurer or a designated depositary of the United States, in the name and to the credit of such court, or retains or converts to his own use or to the use of another any such money, is guilty of embezzlement and shall be or not more than the amount embezzled, whichever is greater, or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both; but if the amount embezzled does not exceed $1,000, he shall be or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.
This section shall not prevent the delivery of any such money upon security, according to agreement of parties, under the direction of the court.
History: (June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 726 (PDF, 39 MB); Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, §330016(1)(H), (2)(H), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147 (PDF, 52 MB), 2148; Pub. L. 104–294, title VI, §606(a), Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3511.)
Simplified explanation
It is a federal embezzlement crime for a federal court clerk or officer to fail to promptly deposit court money with the Treasury or an approved depository, or to keep or use that money for themselves or others.