U.S. Code » Title 18 » Part PART I— CRIMES › Chapter CHAPTER 73— OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE

18 U.S.C. § 1510

Obstruction of criminal investigations

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(a) Whoever willfully endeavors by means of bribery to obstruct, delay, or prevent the communication of information relating to a violation of any criminal statute of the United States by any person to a criminal investigator shall be fined under this title, or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.(b)(1) Whoever, being an officer of a financial institution, with the intent to obstruct a judicial proceeding, directly or indirectly notifies any other person about the existence or contents of a subpoena for records of that financial institution, or information that has been furnished in response to that subpoena, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both.(2) Whoever, being an officer of a financial institution, directly or indirectly notifies—(A) a customer of that financial institution whose records are sought by a subpoena for records; or(B) any other person named in that subpoena;about the existence or contents of that subpoena or information that has been furnished in response to that subpoena, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.(3) As used in this subsection—(A) the term “an officer of a financial institution” means an officer, director, partner, employee, agent, or attorney of or for a financial institution; and(B) the term “subpoena for records” means a Federal grand jury subpoena, a subpoena issued under section 3486 of this title, or an order or subpoena issued in accordance with section 3512 of this title, section 5318 of title 31, or section 1782 of title 28, for customer records that has been served relating to a violation of, or a conspiracy to violate—(i) section 215, 656, 657, 1005, 1006, 1007, 1014, 1344, 1956, 1957, 1960, an offense against a foreign nation constituting specified unlawful activity under section 1956, a foreign offense for which enforcement of a foreign forfeiture judgment could be brought under section 2467 of title 28, or chapter 53 of title 31; or(ii) section 1341 or 1343 affecting a financial institution.(c) As used in this section, the term “criminal investigator” means any individual duly authorized by a department, agency, or armed force of the United States to conduct or engage in investigations of or prosecutions for violations of the criminal laws of the United States.(d)(1) Whoever—(A) acting as, or being, an officer, director, agent or employee of a person engaged in the business of insurance whose activities affect interstate commerce, or(B) is engaged in the business of insurance whose activities affect interstate commerce or is involved (other than as an insured or beneficiary under a policy of insurance) in a transaction relating to the conduct of affairs of such a business,with intent to obstruct a judicial proceeding, directly or indirectly notifies any other person about the existence or contents of a subpoena for records of that person engaged in such business or information that has been furnished to a Federal grand jury in response to that subpoena, shall be fined as provided by this title or imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both.(2) As used in paragraph (1), the term “subpoena for records” means a Federal grand jury subpoena for records that has been served relating to a violation of, or a conspiracy to violate, section 1033 of this title.(e) Whoever, having been notified of the applicable disclosure prohibitions or confidentiality requirements of section 2709(c)(1) of this title, section 626(d)(1) or 627(c)(1) of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. 1681u(d)(1) or 1681v(c)(1)), section 1114(a)(3)(A) or 1114(a)(5)(D)(i) of the Right to Financial Privacy Act 11 So in original. Probably should be followed by “of 1978”. (12 U.S.C. 3414(a)(3)(A) or 3414(a)(5)(D)(i)), or section 802(b)(1) of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 436(b)(1)),22 See References in Text note below. knowingly and with the intent to obstruct an investigation or judicial proceeding violates such prohibitions or requirements applicable by law to such person shall be imprisoned for not more than five years, fined under this title, or both.(Added Pub. L. 90–123, § 1(a), Nov. 3, 1967, 81 Stat. 362; amended Pub. L. 97–291, § 4(e), Oct. 12, 1982, 96 Stat. 1253; Pub. L. 101–73, title IX, § 962(c), Aug. 9, 1989, 103 Stat. 502; Pub. L. 102–550, title XV, § 1528, Oct. 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 4065; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXII, § 320604(c), title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(K), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2119, 2147; Pub. L. 104–191, title II, § 248(c), Aug. 21, 1996, 110 Stat. 2020; Pub. L. 109–177, title I, § 117, Mar. 9, 2006, 120 Stat. 217; Pub. L. 111–148, title X, § 10606(d)(1), Mar. 23, 2010, 124 Stat. 1008; Pub. L. 116–283, div. F, title LXIII, § 6308(c), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4594.)Editorial NotesReferences in Text

The National Security Act of 1947, referred to in subsec. (e), is act July 26, 1947, ch. 343, 61 Stat. 495, which was formerly classified principally to chapter 15 (§ 401 et seq.) of Title 50, War and National Defense, prior to editorial reclassification in chapter 44 (§ 3001 et seq.) of Title 50. Section 802 of this Act is now classified to section 3162 of Title 50. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables.

Amendments

2021—Subsec. (b)(3)(B). Pub. L. 116–283, § 6308(c)(1), substituted “, a subpoena issued under section 3486 of this title, or an order or subpoena issued in accordance with section 3512 of this title, section 5318 of title 31, or section 1782 of title 28” for “or a Department of Justice subpoena (issued under section 3486 of title 18)” in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (b)(3)(B)(i). Pub. L. 116–283, § 6308(c)(2), inserted “, 1960, an offense against a foreign nation constituting specified unlawful activity under section 1956, a foreign offense for which enforcement of a foreign forfeiture judgment could be brought under section 2467 of title 28” after “1957”.

2010—Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 111–148, § 10606(d)(1)(A), struck out “to the grand jury” after “has been furnished”.

Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 111–148, § 10606(d)(1)(B)(ii), struck out “to the grand jury” after “has been furnished” in concluding provisions.

Subsec. (b)(2)(A). Pub. L. 111–148, § 10606(d)(1)(B)(i), substituted “subpoena for records” for “grand jury subpoena”.

2006—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 109–177 added subsec. (e).

1996—Subsec. (b)(3)(B). Pub. L. 104–191 which directed the insertion of “or a Department of Justice subpoena (issued under section 3486 of title 18),” after “subpoena”, was executed by making the insertion after “subpoena” the second place it appeared to reflect the probable intent of Congress.

1994—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 103–322, § 330016(1)(K), substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $5,000”.

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 103–322, § 320604(c), added subsec. (d).

1992—Subsec. (b)(3)(B)(i). Pub. L. 102–550 substituted “1344, 1956, 1957, or chapter 53 of title 31” for “or 1344”.

1989—Subsecs. (b), (c). Pub. L. 101–73 added subsec. (b) and redesignated former subsec. (b) as (c).

1982—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 97–291 struck out “, misrepresentation, intimidation, or force or threats thereof” after “bribery”, and struck out provision applying the penalties provided by this subsection to whoever injured any person in his person or property on account of the giving by such person or any other person of any information relating to a violation of any criminal statute of the United States to any criminal investigator.

Statutory Notes and Related SubsidiariesEffective Date of 1982 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 97–291 effective Oct. 12, 1982, see section 9(a) of Pub. L. 97–291, set out as an Effective Date note under section 1512 of this title.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 242 cases (30 in the last 5 years), 1970–2026 · leading case: United States v. Leonard S. Siegel & Martin B. Abrams, 717 F.2d 9 (2d Cir. 1983).
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United States v. Leonard S. Siegel & Martin B. Abrams, 717 F.2d 9 (2d Cir. 1983). · cites it 10× “Defendant Abrams was found guilty of endeavoring to obstruct federal investigators in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1510 and 2. Although both defendants were convicted of aiding in the preparation of a false corporate tax return in violation of 26 U.”
Clarissa Miranda A/K/A Clarissa Miranda Rodriguez v. Ponce Fed. Bank, Etc., 948 F.2d 41 (1st Cir. 1991). · cites it 6× “In her amended complaint, Miranda alleges in substance that the defendants entered into a scheme of RICO activity, the purpose of which was to obstruct the ongoing federal investigation in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1510 (1988). She then claims that her discharge was in…”
United States v. Spencer Segal, 649 F.2d 599 (8th Cir. 1981). · cites it 9× “Spencer Segal appeals from a final judgment entered in the District Court for the District of Minnesota 1 upon a jury verdict finding him guilty of endeavoring to obstruct a federal criminal investigation in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1510 (count Iv) aiding and abetting the making…”
United States v. Robert C. Thetford, 676 F.2d 170 (5th Cir. 1982). · cites it 6× “Count Eleven involves threats made by Thetford against Jim and Wayne Sharp allegedly in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1510 . 15 Count Twelve involves statements by Thetford to Robert Moore, allegedly in violation of 18 U.”
United States v. Gary Lester, United States of Am. v. Leroy \Obie\" McGill United States of Am. v. Gary \"Geek\" Lester", 749 F.2d 1288 (9th Cir. 1984). · cites it 5× “§ 1503 (obstruction of justice), and 18 U.S.C. § 1510 (obstruction of a criminal investigation).”
United States v. Michael Coiro, 922 F.2d 1008 (2d Cir. 1991). · cites it 5× “§ 371 ; two counts of obstructing a criminal investigation, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1510 (a); and two counts of obstructing a grand jury investigation, in violation of 18 U.”
United States v. Leisure, 844 F.2d 1347 (8th Cir. 1988). · cites it 13× “Count III charged all of the appellants except Loewe with obstructing justice in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1510 (1982). 2 Wougamon was charged individually in Count IV with a separate obstruction of justice count under 18 U.”
Augustus John Camelio v. Am. Fed'n, Etc., 137 F.3d 666 (1st Cir. 1998). · cites it 3× “1997); and obstruction of justice in violation of 18 U.S.C.A. §§ 1510 and 1512 (West 1984 & Supp.”
United States v. George Daly & Louis Giardina, 842 F.2d 1380 (2d Cir. 1988). · cites it 3× “§ 2 (1982); one count of obstructing a criminal investigation, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1510 (1982); and one count of conspiring *1383 to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (“RICO”), in violation of 18 U.”
United States v. James Marty Stafford, 831 F.2d 1479 (9th Cir. 1987). · cites it 7× “WIGGINS, Circuit Judge: James Stafford appeals the district court’s imposition of two consecutive four-year sentences under 18 U.S.C. §§ 1510 (obstruction of criminal investigations) and 1952 (interstate travel in aid of racketeering enterprises).”
State v. Mather, 646 N.W.2d 605 (Neb. 2002). · cites it 2× “1991), the court held that 18 U.S.C. § 1510 (a) (1982), which prevents the obstruction, delay, or prevention of the communication of information relating to a violation of any criminal statute of the United States by any person to a criminal investigator, was ambiguous with…”
United States of Am., v Demetrios Papadakis & Joseph Novoa, 510 F.2d 287 (2d Cir. 1975). · cites it 4× “§ 3 , *290 and to obstruct communication of information to a federal investigator in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1510 . They also convicted him under count four of conspiracy to violate federal narcotics laws, 18 U.”
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