§ 85.5
Adjustments to penalties for violations occurring after November 2, 2015.
For civil penalties assessed after January 29, 2018, whose associated violations occurred after November 2, 2015, the civil monetary penalties provided by law within the jurisdiction of the Department are adjusted as set forth in the sixth column of the following table. For civil penalties assessed after February 3, 2017, and on or before January 29, 2018, whose associated violations occurred after November 2, 2015, the civil monetary penalties provided by law within the jurisdiction of the Department are those set forth in the fifth column of the following table. For civil penalties assessed after August 1, 2016, and on or before February 3, 2017, whose associated violations occurred after November 2, 2015, the civil monetary penalties provided by law within the jurisdiction of the Department are those set forth in the fourth column of the following table. All figures set forth in this table are maximum penalties, unless otherwise indicated.
U.S.C. citation
Name/description
CFR citation
DOJ penaltyassessed after
8/1/16
($)
DOJ penaltyassessed after
2/3/17
($) 1
DOJ penaltyassessed after
1/29/2018
($) 2
ATF
18 U.S.C. 922(t)(5)
Brady Law—Nat'l Instant Criminal Check System; Transfer of firearm without checking NICS
8,162
8,296
8,465.
18 U.S.C. 924(p)
Child Safety Lock Act; Secure gun storage or safety device, violation
2,985
3,034
3,096.
Civil Division
12 USC 1833a(b)(1)
Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act (FIRREA) Violation
28 CFR 85.3(a)(6)
1,893,610
1,924,589
1,963,870.
12 U.S.C. 1833a(b)(2)
FIRREA Violation (continuing) (per day)
28 CFR 85.3(a)(7)
1,893,610
1,924,589
1,963,870.
12 U.S.C. 1833a(b)(2)
FIRREA Violation (continuing)
28 CFR 85.3(a)(7)
9,468,050
9,622,947
9,819,351.
22 U.S.C. 2399b(a)(3)(A)
Foreign Assistance Act; Fraudulent Claim for Assistance (per act)
28 CFR 85.3(a)(8)
5,500
5,590
5,704.
31 U.S.C. 3729(a)
False Claims Act; 3 Violations
28 CFR 85.3(a)(9)
Min. 10,781, Max. 21,563
Min. 10,957, Max. 21,916
Min. 11,181, Max. 22,363.
31 U.S.C. 3802(a)(1)
Program Fraud Civil Remedies Act; Violations Involving False Claim (per claim)
28 CFR 71.3(a)
10,781
10,957
11,181.
31 U.S.C. 3802(a)(2)
Program Fraud Civil Remedies Act; Violation Involving False Statement (per statement)
28 CFR 71.3(f)
10,781
10,957
11,181.
40 U.S.C. 123(a)(1)(A)
Federal Property and Administrative Services Act; Violation Involving Surplus Government Property (per act)
28 CFR 85.3(a)(12)
5,500
5,590
5,704.
41 U.S.C. 8706(a)(1)(B)
Anti-Kickback Act; Violation Involving Kickbacks 4 (per occurrence)
28 CFR 85.3(a)(13)
21,563
21,916
22,363.
18 U.S.C. 2723(b)
Driver's Privacy Protection Act of 1994; Prohibition on Release and Use of Certain Personal Information from State Motor Vehicle Records—Substantial Non-compliance (per day)
7,954
8,084
8,249.
18 U.S.C. 216(b)
Ethics Reform Act of 1989; Penalties for Conflict of Interest Crimes 5 (per violation)
28 CFR 85.3(c)
94,681
96,230
98,194.
41 U.S.C. 2105(b)(1)
Office of Federal Procurement Policy Act; 6 Violation by an individual (per violation)
98,935
100,554
102,606.
41 U.S.C. 2105(b)(2)
Office of Federal Procurement Policy Act; 6 Violation by an organization (per violation)
989,345
1,005,531
1,026,054.
42 U.S.C. 5157(d)
Disaster Relief Act of 1974; 7 Violation (per violation)
12,500
12,705
12,964.
Civil Rights Division (excluding immigration-related penalties)
18 U.S.C. 248(c)(2)(B)(i)
Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act of 1994 (“FACE Act”); Nonviolent physical obstruction, first violation
28 CFR 85.3(b)(1)(i)
15,909
16,169
16,499.
18 U.S.C. 248(c)(2)(B)(ii)
FACE Act; Nonviolent physical obstruction, subsequent violation
28 CFR 85.3(b)(1)(ii)
23,863
24,253
24,748.
18 U.S.C. 248(c)(2)(B)(i)
FACE Act; Violation other than a nonviolent physical obstruction, first violation
28 CFR 85.3(b)(2)(i)
23,863
24,253
24,748.
18 U.S.C. 248(c)(2)(B)(ii)
FACE Act; Violation other than a nonviolent physical obstruction, subsequent violation
28 CFR 85.3(b)(2)(ii)
39,772
40,423
41,248.
42 U.S.C. 3614(d)(1)(C)(i)
Fair Housing Act of 1968; first violation
28 CFR 85.3(b)(3)(i)
98,935
100,554
102,606.
42 U.S.C. 3614(d)(1)(C)(ii)
Fair Housing Act of 1968; subsequent violation
28 CFR 85.3(b)(3)(ii)
197,869
201,106
205,211.
42 U.S.C. 12188(b)(2)(C)(i)
Americans With Disabilities Act; Public accommodations for individuals with disabilities, first violation
28 CFR 36.504(a)(3)(i)
89,078
90,535
92,383.
42 U.S.C. 12188(b)(2)(C)(ii)
Americans With Disabilities Act; Public accommodations for individuals with disabilities, subsequent violation
28 CFR 36.504(a)(3)(ii)
178,156
181,071
184,767.
50 U.S.C. 4041(b)(3)
Servicemembers Civil Relief Act of 2003; first violation
28 CFR 85.3(b)(4)(i)
59,810
60,788
62,029.
50 U.S.C. 4041(b)(3)
Servicemembers Civil Relief Act of 2003; subsequent violation
28 CFR 85.3(b)(4)(ii)
119,620
121,577
124,058.
Criminal Division
18 U.S.C. 983(h)(1)
Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform Act of 2000; Penalty for Frivolous Assertion of Claim
Min. 342, Max. 6,834
Min. 348, Max. 6,946
Min. 355, Max. 7,088.
18 U.S.C. 1956(b)
Money Laundering Control Act of 1986; Violation 8
21,563
21,916
22,363.
DEA
21 U.S.C. 844a(a)
Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988; Possession of small amounts of controlled substances (per violation)
28 CFR 76.3(a)
19,787
20,111
20,521.
21 U.S.C. 961(1)
Controlled Substance Import Export Act; Drug abuse, import or export
28 CFR 85.3(d)
68,750
69,875
71,301.
21 U.S.C. 842(c)(1)(A)
Controlled Substances Act (“CSA”); Violations of 842(a)—other than (5), (10) and (16)—Prohibited acts re: controlled substances (per violation)
62,500
63,523
64,820.
21 U.S.C. 842(c)(1)(B)
CSA; Violations of 842(a)(5) and (10)—Prohibited acts re: controlled substances
14,502
14,739
15,040.
21 U.S.C. 842(c)(1)(C)
CSA; Violation of 825(e) by importer, exporter, manufacturer, or distributor—False labeling of anabolic steroids (per violation)
500,855
509,049
519,439.
21 U.S.C. 842(c)(1)(D)
CSA; Violation of 825(e) at the retail level—False labeling of anabolic steroids (per violation)
1,002
1,018
1,039.
21 U.S.C. 842(c)(2)(C)
CSA; Violation of 842(a)(11) by a business—Distribution of laboratory supply with reckless disregard 9
375,613
381,758
389,550.
21 U.S.C. 856(d)
Illicit Drug Anti-Proliferation Act of 2003; Maintaining drug-involved premises 10
321,403
326,661
333,328.
Immigration-Related Penalties
8 U.S.C. 1324a(e)(4)(A)(i)
Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (“IRCA”); Unlawful employment of aliens, first order (per unauthorized alien)
28 CFR 68.52(c)(1)(i)
Min. 539, Max. 4,313
Min. 548, Max. 4,384
Min. 559, Max. 4,473.
8 U.S.C. 1324a(e)(4)(A)(ii)
IRCA; Unlawful employment of aliens, second order (per such alien)
28 CFR 68.52(c)(1)(ii)
Min. 4,313, Max. 10,781
Min. 4,384, Max. 10,957
Min. 4,473, Max. 11,181.
8 U.S.C. 1324a(e)(4)(A)(iii)
IRCA; Unlawful employment of aliens, subsequent order (per such alien)
28 CFR 68.52(c)(1)(iii)
Min. 6,469, Max. 21,563
Min. 6,575, Max. 21,916
Min. 6,709, Max. 22,363.
8 U.S.C. 1324a(e)(5)
IRCA; Paperwork violation (per relevant individual)
28 CFR 68.52(c)(5)
Min. 216, Max. 2,156
Min. 220, Max. 2,191
Min. 224, Max. 2,236.
8 U.S.C. 1324a, (note)
IRCA; Violation relating to participating employer's failure to notify of final nonconfirmation of employee's employment eligibility (per relevant individual)
28 CFR 68.52(c)(6)
Min. 751 Max.1,502
Min. 763, Max. 1,527
Min. 779, Max. 1,558.
8 U.S.C. 1324a(g)(2)
IRCA; Violation/prohibition of indemnity bonds (per violation)
28 CFR 68.52(c)(7)
2,156
2,191
2,236.
8 U.S.C. 1324b(g)(2)(B)(iv)(I)
IRCA; Unfair immigration-related employment practices, first order (per individual discriminated against)
28 CFR 68.52(d)(1)(viii)
Min. 445, Max. 3,563
Min. 452, Max. 3,621
Min. 461, Max. 3,695.
8 U.S.C. 1324b(g)(2)(B)(iv)(II)
IRCA; Unfair immigration-related employment practices, second order (per individual discriminated against)
28 CFR 68.52(d)(1)(ix)
Min. 3,563, Max. 8,908
Min. 3,621, Max. 9,054
Min. 3,695, Max. 9,239.
8 U.S.C. 1324b(g)(2)(B)(iv)(III)
IRCA; Unfair immigration-related employment practices, subsequent order (per individual discriminated against)
28 CFR 68.52(d)(1)(x)
Min. 5,345, Max. 17,816
Min. 5,432, Max 18,107
Min. 5,543, Max.18,477.
8 U.S.C. 1324b(g)(2)(B)(iv)(IV)
IRCA; Unfair immigration-related employment practices, unfair documentary practices (per individual discriminated against)
28 CFR 68.52(d)(1)(xii)
Min. 178, Max. 1,782
Min. 181, Max. 1,811
Min. 185, Max. 1,848.
8 U.S.C. 1324c(d)(3)(A)
IRCA; Document fraud, first order—for violations described in USC 1324c(a)(1)-(4) (per document)
28 CFR 68.52(e)(1)(i)
Min. 445, Max. 3,563
Min. 452, Max. 3,621
Min. 461, Max. 3,695.
8 U.S.C. 1324c(d)(3)(B)
IRCA; Document fraud, subsequent order—for violations described in USC 1324c(a)(1)-(4) (per document)
28 CFR 68.52(e)(1)(iii)
Min. 3,563, Max. 8,908
Min. 3,621, Max. 9,054
Min. 3,695, Max. 9,239.
8 U.S.C. 1324c(d)(3)(A)
IRCA; Document fraud, first order—for violations described in USC 1324c(a)(5)-(6) (per document)
28 CFR 68.52(e)(1)(ii)
Min. 376, Max. 3,005
Min. 382, Max. 3,054
Min. 390, Max.3,116.
8 U.S.C. 1324c(d)(3)(B)
IRCA; Document fraud, subsequent order—for violations described in USC 1324c(a)(5)-(6) (per document)
28 CFR 68.52(e)(1)(iv)
Min. 3,005, Max. 7,512
Min. 3,054, Max. 7,635
Min. 3,116, Max. 7,791.
FBI
49 U.S.C. 30505(a)
National Motor Vehicle Title Identification System; Violation (per violation)
1,591
1,617
1,650.
Office of Justice Programs
34 U.S.C. 10231(d)
Confidentiality of information; State and Local Criminal History Record Information Systems—Right to Privacy Violation
28 CFR 20.25
27,500
27,950
28,520.
1 The figures set forth in this column represent the penalty as last adjusted by Department of Justice regulation on February 3, 2017.
2 All figures set forth in this table are maximum penalties, unless otherwise indicated.
3 Section 3729(a)(1) of Title 31 provides that any person who violates this section is liable to the United States Government for a civil penalty of not less than $5,000 and not more than $10,000, as adjusted by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990, plus 3 times the amount of damages which the Government sustains because of the act of that person. 31 U.S.C. 3729(a)(1) (2015). Section 3729(a)(2) permits the court to reduce the damages under certain circumstances to not less than 2 times the amount of damages which the Government sustains because of the act of that person. Id. section 3729(a)(2). The adjustment made by this regulation is only applicable to the specific statutory penalty amounts stated in subsection (a)(1), which is only one component of the civil penalty imposed under section 3729(a)(1).
4 Section 8706(a)(1) of Title 41 provides that the Federal Government in a civil action may recover from a person that knowingly engages in conduct prohibited by section 8702 of Title 44 a civil penalty equal to twice the amount of each kickback involved in the violation and not more than $10,000 for each occurrence of prohibited conduct. 41 U.S.C. 8706(a)(1) (2015). The adjustment made by this regulation is only applicable to the specific statutory penalty amount stated in subsection (a)(1)(B), which is only one component of the civil penalty imposed under section 8706.
5 Section 216(b) of Title 18 provides that the civil penalty should be no more than $50,000 for each violation or the amount of compensation which the person received or offered for the prohibited conduct, whichever amount is greater. 18 U.S.C. 216(b) (2015). Therefore, the adjustment made by this regulation is only applicable to the specific statutory penalty amount stated in subsection (b), which is only one aspect of the possible civil penalty imposed under section 216(b).
6 Section 2105(b) of Title 41 provides that the Attorney General may bring a civil action in an appropriate district court of the United States against a person that engages in conduct that violates section 2102, 2103, or 2104 of Title 41. 41 U.S.C. 2105(b) (2015). Section 2105(b) further provides that on proof of that conduct by a preponderance of the evidence, an individual is liable to the Federal Government for a civil penalty of not more than $50,000 for each violation plus twice the amount of compensation that the individual received or offered for the prohibited conduct, and an organization is liable to the Federal Government for a civil penalty of not more than $500,000 for each violation plus twice the amount of compensation that the organization received or offered for the prohibited conduct. Id. section 2105(b). The adjustments made by this regulation are only applicable to the specific statutory penalty amounts stated in subsections (b)(1) and (b)(2), which are each only one component of the civil penalties imposed under sections 2105(b)(1) and (b)(2).
7 The Attorney General has authority to bring a civil action when a person has violated or is about to violate a provision under this statute. 42 U.S.C. 5157(b) (2015). The Federal Emergency Management Agency has promulgated regulations regarding this statute and has adjusted the penalty in its regulation. 44 CFR 206.14(d) (2015). The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has also promulgated a regulation regarding the penalty under this statute. 42 CFR 38.8 (2015).
8 Section 1956(b)(1) of Title 18 provides that whoever conducts or attempts to conduct a transaction described in subsection (a)(1) or (a)(3), or section 1957, or a transportation, transmission, or transfer described in subsection (a)(2), is liable to the United States for a civil penalty of not more than the greater of the value of the property, funds, or monetary instruments involved in the transaction; or $10,000. 18 U.S.C. 1956(b)(1) (2015). The adjustment made by this regulation is only applicable to the specific statutory penalty amount stated in subsection (b)(1)(B), which is only one aspect of the possible civil penalty imposed under section 1956(b).
9 Section 842(c)(2)(C) of Title 21 provides that in addition to the penalties set forth elsewhere in the subchapter or subchapter II of the chapter, any business that violates paragraph (11) of subsection (a) of the section shall, with respect to the first such violation, be subject to a civil penalty of not more than $250,000, but shall not be subject to criminal penalties under the section, and shall, for any succeeding violation, be subject to a civil fine of not more than $250,000 or double the last previously imposed penalty, whichever is greater. 21 U.S.C. 842(c)(2)(C) (2015). The adjustment made by this regulation regarding the penalty for a succeeding violation is only applicable to the specific statutory penalty amount stated in subsection (c)(2)(C), which is only one aspect of the possible civil penalty for a succeeding violation imposed under section 842(c)(2)(C).
10 Section 856(d)(1) of Title 21 provides that any person who violates subsection (a) of the section shall be subject to a civil penalty of not more than the greater of $250,000; or 2 times the gross receipts, either known or estimated, that were derived from each violation that is attributable to the person. 21 U.S.C. 856(d)(1) (2015). The adjustment made by this regulation is only applicable to the specific statutory penalty amount stated in subsection (d)(1)(A), which is only one aspect of the possible civil penalty imposed under section 856(d)(1).
[AG Order No. 4093-2018, 83 FR 3945, Jan. 29, 2018]