Solicitation or use of gifts
Official text prohibited actmental stateif conditionpenaltylegal term
Whoever solicits any gift of money or other property, and represents that such gift is being solicited for the use of the United States, with the intention of embezzling, stealing, or purloining such gift, or converting the same to any other use or purpose, or whoever, having come into possession of any money or property which has been donated by the owner thereof for the use of the United States, , steals or purloins such money or property, or converts the same to any other use or purpose, shall be or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.
History: (June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 731 (PDF, 39 MB); Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, §330016(1)(K), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147 (PDF, 52 MB).)
Simplified explanation
It is a federal crime to ask for donations by claiming they are for the U.S. government while planning to steal or misuse them. It is also a crime to steal or misuse money or property donated to the United States.