§ 87c. Criminal Penalties

     (a) Any person who commits any offense prohibited by section 87b of this title (except an offense prohibited by paragraphs (a)(7), (a)(8), and (b)(4) in which case the person shall be subject to the general penal statutes in title 18 relating to crimes and offenses against the United States) shall be guilty of a felony and shall, on conviction thereof, be subject to imprisonment for not more than five years, or a fine of not more than $20,000, or both such imprisonment and fine.

     (b) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as requiring the Secretary to report minor violations of this chapter for criminal prosecution whenever the Secretary believes that the public interest will be adequately served by a suitable written notice or warning, or to report any violation of this chapter for prosecution when the Secretary believes that institution of a proceeding under section 86 of this title will obtain compliance with this chapter and the Secretary institutes such a proceeding.

     (c) Any officer or employee of the Department of Agriculture assigned to perform weighing functions under this chapter shall be considered as an employee of the Department of Agriculture assigned to perform inspection functions for the purposes of sections 1114 and 111 of Title 18.

(Aug. 11, 1916, ch. 313, pt. B, § 14, as added Pub. L. 90–487, § 1, Aug. 15, 1968, 82 Stat. 767; amended Pub. L. 94–582, § 17, Oct. 21, 1976, 90 Stat. 2884; Pub. L. 103–156, §§ 8, 12(m), Nov. 24, 1993, 107 Stat. 1527, 1529; Pub. L. 103–354, title II, § 293(a)(7), Oct. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 3237.)

     1994—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 103–354 substituted "Secretary" for "Administrator" wherever appearing.

     1993—Pub. L. 103–156, § 12(m), which directed amendment of "Section 14", without specifying the name of the Act being amended, was executed to this section, which is section 14 of the United States Grain Standards Act, to reflect the probable intent of Congress.

     Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 103–156, §§ 8, 12(m)(1), substituted "the person" for "he", and struck out "shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall, on conviction thereof, be subject to imprisonment for not more than twelve months, or a fine of not more than $10,000, or both such imprisonment and fine; but, for each subsequent offense subject to this subsection, such person" before "shall be guilty of a felony".

     Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 103–156, § 12(m)(2), substituted "the Administrator" for "he" in three places.

     1976—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 94–582 inserted "(except an offense prohibited by paragraphs (a)(7), (a)(8), and (b)(4) in which case he shall be subject to the general penal statutes in Title 18 relating to crimes and offenses against the United States)", increased the punishment for misdemeanors from six months to twelve months and the fine from $3,000 to $10,000, and denominated subsequent offenses as felonies, substituting "but, for each subsequent offense subject to this subsection, such person shall be guilty of a felony and shall, on conviction thereof, be subject to imprisonment for not more than five years, or a fine of not more than $20,000, or both such imprisonment and fine" for "but if such offense is committed after one conviction of such person under this section has become final, such person shall be subject to imprisonment for not more than one year, or a fine of not more than $5,000, or both such imprisonment and fine".

     Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 94–582 substituted "Administrator" for "Secretary" and inserted provision that nothing in this chapter shall be construed as requiring the Administrator to report any violation of this chapter for prosecution when he believes that institution of a proceeding under section 86 of this title will obtain compliance with this chapter and he institutes such a proceeding.

     Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 94–582 added subsec. (c).

     Amendment by Pub. L. 94–582 effective 30 days after Oct. 21, 1976, see section 27 of Pub. L. 94–582, as amended, set out as a note under section 74 of this title.

     For effective date of section, see section 2 of Pub. L. 90–487, set out as an Effective Date of 1968 Amendment note under section 78 of this title.

     This section is referred to in sections 79, 79a, 86 of this title.