698 PUBLIC LAWS-CH. 645-JUNE 25, 1948 [62 STAT. any such claim otherwise than in the proper discharge of his official duties, or receives any gratuity, or any share of or interest in any such claim in consideration of assistance in the prosecution of such claim, shall be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned not more than one year, or both. This section shall not apply to any person because of his membership in the National Guard of the District of Columbia nor to any person specially excepted by enactment of Congress. § 284. DISQUALIFICATIONS OF FORMER OFFICERS AND EM'LOYEES IN MAT- TERS CONNECTED WITH FORMER DUTIES (a) Whoever, having been employed in any agency of the United States, including commissioned officers assigned to duty in such agency, within two years after the time when such employment or service has ceased, prosecutes or acts as counsel, attorney, or agent for prosecut- ing, any claims against the United States involving any subject matter directly connected with which such person was so employed or per- formed duty, shall be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned not more than one year, or both. § 285. TAKING OR USING PAPERS RELATING TO CLAIMS Whoever, without authority, takes and carries away from the place where it was filed, deposited, or kept by authority of the United States, any certificate, affidavit, deposition, statement of facts, power of attor- ney, receipt, voucher, assignment, or other document, record, file, or paper prepared, fitted, or intended to be used or presented to procure the payment of money from or by the United States or any officer, employee, or agent thereof, or the allowance or payment of the whole or any part of any claim, account, or demand against the United States, whether the same has or has not already been so used or presented, and whether such claim, account, or demand, or any part thereof has or has not already been allowed or paid; or Whoever presents, uses, or attempts to use any such document, rec- ord, file, or paper so taken and carried away, to procure the payment of any money from or by the United States, or any officer, employee, or agent thereof, or the allowance or payment of the whole or any part of any claim, account, or demand against the United States- Shall be fined not more than $5,000 or imprisoned not more than five years, or both. § 286. CONSPIRACY TO DEFRAUD THE GOVERNMENT WITH RESPECT TO CLAIMS Whoever enters into any agreement, combination, or conspiracy to defraud the United States, or any department or agency thereof, by obtaining or aiding to obtain the payment or allowance of any false, fictitious or fraudulent claim, shall be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both. § 287. FALSE, FICTITIOUS OR FRAUDULENT CLAIMS Whoever makes or presents to any person or officer in the civil, mili- tary, or naval service of the United States, or to any department or agency thereof, any claim upon or against the United States, or any department or agency thereof, knowing such claim to be false, ficti- tious, or fraudulent, shall be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned not more than five years, or both. § 288. FALSE CLAIMS FOR POSTAL LOSSES Whoever makes, alleges, or presents any claim or application for indemnity for the loss of any registered or insured letter parcel, pack- age, or other article or matter, or the contents thereof, knowing such claim or application to be false, fictitious, or fraudulent; or
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