Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

18 U.S.C. § 665

Theft or embezzlement from employment and training funds; improper inducement; obstruction of investigations

(a)
Whoever, being an officer, director, agent, or employee of, or connected in any capacity with any agency or organization receiving financial assistance or any funds under title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act or title I of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 knowingly enrolls an ineligible participant, embezzles, willfully misapplies, steals, or obtains by fraud any of the moneys, funds, assets, or property which are the subject of a financial assistance agreement or contract pursuant to such Act shall be fined under this title or imprisoned for not more than 2 years, or both; but if the amount so embezzled, misapplied, stolen, or obtained by fraud does not exceed $1,000, such person shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 1 year, or both.
(b)
Whoever, by threat or procuring dismissal of any person from employment or of refusal to employ or refusal to renew a contract of employment in connection with a financial assistance agreement or contract under title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act or title I of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 induces any person to give up any money or thing of any value to any person (including such organization or agency receiving funds) shall be fined under this title, or imprisoned not more than 1 year, or both.
(c)
Whoever willfully obstructs or impedes or willfully endeavors to obstruct or impede, an investigation or inquiry under title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act or title I of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, or the regulations thereunder, shall be punished by a fine under this title, or by imprisonment for not more than 1 year, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

Pub. L. 93–203, title VII, § 711(a)87 Stat. 881Pub. L. 93–567, title I, § 10188 Stat. 1845Pub. L. 95–524, § 3(a)92 Stat. 2017Pub. L. 97–300, title I, § 18296 Stat. 1357Pub. L. 101–647, title XXXV, § 3517104 Stat. 4923Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(H)108 Stat. 2147Pub. L. 104–294, title VI, § 606(a)110 Stat. 3511Pub. L. 105–277, div. A, § 101(f) [title VIII, § 405(d)(13)]112 Stat. 2681–337Pub. L. 107–273, div. B, title IV, § 4002(d)(1)(B)116 Stat. 1809Pub. L. 113–128, title V, § 512(ee)128 Stat. 1718(Added , formerly title VI, § 611(a), , ; renumbered title VII, § 711(a), , , ; amended , , ; , , ; , , ; , (L), , ; , , ; , , , 2681–421; , , ; , , .)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Pub. L. 113–128128 Stat. 1425section 3101 of Title 29The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, referred to in text, is , , . Title I of the Act is classified generally to subchapter I (§ 3111 et seq.) of chapter 32 of Title 29, Labor. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under and Tables.

Pub. L. 105–220112 Stat. 936Pub. L. 113–128, title V128 Stat. 1703section 3361(a) of Title 29Pub. L. 113–128128 Stat. 1425The Workforce Investment Act of 1998, referred to in text, is , , , and was repealed by , §§ 506, 511(a), , , 1705, effective . Title I of the Act was classified principally to former chapter 30 (former § 2801 et seq.) of Title 29, Labor. Pursuant to , references to a provision of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 are deemed to refer to the corresponding provision of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, , , , effective . For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables.

Codification

Section 711(a) of Pub. L. 93–203Pub. L. 93–203Pub. L. 95–524, cited as a credit to this section, was omitted in the general revision of by .

Amendments

Pub. L. 113–128, § 512(ee)(1)2014—Subsec. (a). , substituted “Whoever, being an officer, director, agent, or employee of, or connected in any capacity with any agency or organization receiving financial assistance or any funds under title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act or title I of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998” for “Whoever, being an officer, director, agent, or employee of, or connected in any capacity with any agency or organization receiving financial assistance or any funds under the Job Training Partnership Act or title I of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998”.

Pub. L. 113–128, § 512(ee)(2)Subsec. (b). , substituted “a contract of employment in connection with a financial assistance agreement or contract under title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act or title I of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998” for “a contract of employment in connection with a financial assistance agreement or contract under the Job Training Partnership Act or title I of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998”.

Pub. L. 113–128, § 512(ee)(3)Subsec. (c). , substituted “Whoever willfully obstructs or impedes or willfully endeavors to obstruct or impede, an investigation or inquiry under title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act or title I of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998,” for “Whoever willfully obstructs or impedes or willfully endeavors to obstruct or impede, an investigation or inquiry under the Job Training Partnership Act or title I of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998,”.

Pub. L. 107–2732002—Subsec. (c). substituted “a fine under this title” for “a fine of not more than $5,000”.

Pub. L. 105–2771998—Subsecs. (a) to (c). substituted “the Job Training Partnership Act or title I of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998” for “the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act or the Job Training Partnership Act”.

Pub. L. 104–2941996—Subsec. (a). substituted “$1,000” for “$100”.

Pub. L. 103–3221994—Subsec. (a). substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $10,000” after “such Act shall be” and for “fined not more than $1,000” after “person shall be”.

Pub. L. 103–322, § 330016(1)(H)Subsec. (b). , substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $1,000”.

Pub. L. 101–6471990— substituted semicolons for colons in section catchline and “Whoever” for “Any person whoever” in subsec. (c).

Pub. L. 97–3001982—Subsec. (a). inserted “or organization” after “any agency”, “or any funds” after “financial assistance”, “or Job Training Partnership Act” after “Comprehensive Employment and Training Act”, substituted “participant” for “individual or individuals”, and “financial assistance agreement or contract” for “grant or contract of assistance”.

Pub. L. 97–300Subsec. (b). substituted “financial assistance agreement or contract” for “grant or contract of assistance”, inserted “or the Job Training Partnership Act” after “Comprehensive Employment and Training Act”, substituted “any person” for “any persons” after “induces”, and substituted “organization or agency receiving funds” for “grantee agency”.

Pub. L. 97–300Subsec. (c). inserted “willfully” before “endeavors to obstruct”, and “or the Job Training Partnership Act” after “Comprehensive Employment and Training Act”.

Pub. L. 95–5241978— substituted “employment and training funds:” for “manpower funds;” and inserted “: obstruction of investigations” after “improper inducement” in section catchline.

Pub. L. 95–524Subsec. (a). substituted “Comprehensive Employment and Training Act knowingly hires an ineligible individual or individuals,” for “Comprehensive Employment and Training Act of 1973”.

Pub. L. 95–524Subsec. (b). substituted “Comprehensive Employment and Training Act” for “Comprehensive Employment and Training Act of 1973”.

Pub. L. 95–524Subsec. (c). added subsec. (c).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2014 Amendment

Pub. L. 113–128section 506 of Pub. L. 113–128section 3101 of Title 29Amendment by effective on the first day of the first full program year after (), see , set out as an Effective Date note under , Labor.