SCAM Act

I 116TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION H. R. 7055 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 MAY 28, 2020 Mr. MEUSER (for himself and Mr. SUOZZI) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 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. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Coronavirus 4 Scammers, Crooks, and Manipulators Act’’ or the ‘‘SCAM 5 Act’’. 6 SEC. 2. MAIL FRAUD AND OTHER FRAUD OFFENSES. 7 (a) FRAUDS AND SWINDLES.—Section 1341 of title 8 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after ‘‘30 9 years, or both.’’ the following: ‘‘If the violation occurs in 10 VerDate Sep 11 2014 19:09 Jun 18, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H7055.IH H7055 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 7055 IH relation to, or involving any benefit authorized, trans- 1 ported, transmitted, transferred, disbursed, or paid in con- 2 nection with the emergency declared on March 13, 2020, 3 by the President under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 4 Relief and Emergency Assistance Act relating to 5 Coronavirus Disease 2019, such person shall be fined not 6 more than $1,500,000 or imprisoned not more than 45 7 years, or both.’’. 8 (b) FRAUD BY WIRE, RADIO, OR TELEVISION.—Sec- 9 tion 1343 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by 10 inserting after ‘‘30 years, or both.’’ the following: ‘‘If the 11 violation occurs in relation to, or involving any benefit au- 12 thorized, transported, transmitted, transferred, disbursed, 13 or paid in connection with the emergency declared on 14 March 13, 2020, by the President under the Robert T. 15 Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act 16 relating to Coronavirus Disease 2019, such person shall 17 be fined not more than $1,500,000 or imprisoned not 18 more than 45 years, or both.’’. 19 SEC. 3. COUNTERFEIT GOODS AND SERVICES. 20 Section 2320(b) of title 18, United States Code, is 21 amended by adding at the end the following: 22 ‘‘(4) COVID-19.—Any person who commits an 23 offense under subsection (a) involving a counterfeit 24 good, which is advertised by the person as having 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 19:09 Jun 18, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H7055.IH H7055 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 7055 IH the ability to treat, prevent, or cure COVID-19, 1 shall, in the case of an individual, be fined not more 2 than $2,500,000, or imprisoned not more than 45 3 years, or both, or in the case of a person other than 4 an individual, be fined $5,500,000.’’. 5 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 19:09 Jun 18, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H7055.IH H7055 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS