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(Original Signature of Member)
H. R. ll
116TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
To provide for an increased fine and term of imprisonment for fraud in
connection with the COVID-19 pandemic, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Mr. MEUSER (for himself and Mr. SUOZZI) introduced the following bill; which
was referred to the Committee on lllllllllllllll
A BILL
To provide for an increased fine and term of imprisonment
for fraud in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic,
and for other purposes.
1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Coronavirus
5 Scammers, Crooks, and Manipulators Act’’ or the ‘‘SCAM
6 Act’’.
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1 SEC. 2. MAIL FRAUD AND OTHER FRAUD OFFENSES.
2 (a) FRAUDS AND SWINDLES.—Section 1341 of title
3 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after ‘‘30
4 years, or both.’’ the following: ‘‘If the violation occurs in
5 relation to, or involving any benefit authorized, trans-
6 ported, transmitted, transferred, disbursed, or paid in con-
7 nection with the emergency declared on March 13, 2020,
8 by the President under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster
9 Relief and Emergency Assistance Act relating to
10 Coronavirus Disease 2019, such person shall be fined not
11 more than $1,500,000 or imprisoned not more than 45
12 years, or both.’’.
13 (b) FRAUD BY WIRE, RADIO, OR TELEVISION.—Sec-
14 tion 1343 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by
15 inserting after ‘‘30 years, or both.’’ the following: ‘‘If the
16 violation occurs in relation to, or involving any benefit au-
17 thorized, transported, transmitted, transferred, disbursed,
18 or paid in connection with the emergency declared on
19 March 13, 2020, by the President under the Robert T.
20 Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act
21 relating to Coronavirus Disease 2019, such person shall
22 be fined not more than $1,500,000 or imprisoned not
23 more than 45 years, or both.’’.
24 SEC. 3. COUNTERFEIT GOODS AND SERVICES.
25 Section 2320(b) of title 18, United States Code, is
26 amended by adding at the end the following:
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1 ‘‘(4) COVID-19.—Any person who commits an
2 offense under subsection (a) involving a counterfeit
3 good, which is advertised by the person as having
4 the ability to treat, prevent, or cure COVID-19,
5 shall, in the case of an individual, be fined not more
6 than $2,500,000, or imprisoned not more than 45
7 years, or both, or in the case of a person other than
8 an individual, be fined $5,500,000.’’.
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