Whoever, having devised or intending to devise any scheme or artifice to defraud, or for obtaining money or property by means of false or fraudulent pretenses, representations, or promises, transmits or causes to be transmitted by means of wire, radio, or television communication in interstate or foreign commerce, any writings, signs, signals, pictures, or sounds for the purpose of executing such scheme or artifice, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both. If the violation occurs in relation to, or involving any benefit authorized, transported, transmitted, transferred, disbursed, or paid in connection with, a presidentially declared major disaster or emergency (as those terms are defined in section 102 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5122)), or affects a financial institution, such person shall be fined not more than $1,000,000 or imprisoned not more than 30 years, or both.
(Added July 16, 1952, ch. 879, §18(a), 66 Stat. 722; amended July 11, 1956, ch. 561, 70 Stat. 523; Pub. L. 101–73, title IX, §961(j), Aug. 9, 1989, 103 Stat. 500; Pub. L. 101–647, title XXV, §2504(i), Nov. 29, 1990, 104 Stat. 4861; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, §330016(1)(H), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147; Pub. L. 107–204, title IX, §903(b), July 30, 2002, 116 Stat. 805; Pub. L. 110–179, §3, Jan. 7, 2008, 121 Stat. 2557.)
2008—Pub. L. 110–179 inserted "occurs in relation to, or involving any benefit authorized, transported, transmitted, transferred, disbursed, or paid in connection with, a presidentially declared major disaster or emergency (as those terms are defined in section 102 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5122)), or" after "If the violation".
2002—Pub. L. 107–204 substituted "20 years" for "five years".
1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted "fined under this title" for "fined not more than $1,000".
1990—Pub. L. 101–647 substituted "30" for "20" before "years".
1989—Pub. L. 101–73 inserted at end "If the violation affects a financial institution, such person shall be fined not more than $1,000,000 or imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both."
1956—Act July 11, 1956, substituted "transmitted by means of wire, radio, or television communication in interstate or foreign commerce" for "transmitted by means of interstate wire, radio, or television communication".