Zero Tolerance for Fraudsters Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8951
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Crime and Law Enforcement
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-05-21: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-23T17:20:59Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation This bill establishes mandatory minimum prison sentences for certain fraud and false statement offenses under Title 18 of the United States Code.
Key Provisions
- Adds a new Section 1041 to Chapter 47, applying to offenses under sections 1001, 1002, 1003, 1010, 1012, 1031, 1035, or 1040.
- Adds a new Section 1353 to Chapter 63, applying to offenses under sections 1341, 1343, 1345, or 1347.
- Sets the following penalties based on the amount involved (unless the original section provides a longer term):
- $1,000,000 to less than $5,000,000: fine plus imprisonment of at least 1 year but not more than 10 years.
- $5,000,000 or more: fine plus imprisonment of at least 5 years but not more than 20 years.
- Includes clerical amendments to update the tables of sections in Chapters 47 and 63.
Significant Changes to Existing Law The bill introduces new mandatory minimum sentences for the listed fraud offenses, which previously lacked such fixed minimum terms in many cases. It overrides lesser penalties from the underlying sections when the monetary thresholds are met.
Potential Impacts
- Government agencies: Affects federal courts and the Department of Justice by requiring judges to impose set minimum prison terms during sentencing for qualifying cases.
- Citizens: Increases the minimum prison time for individuals convicted of covered fraud offenses involving $1 million or more.
- International relations: The legislation does not address international relations.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Individuals charged with or convicted of the specified fraud offenses.
- Federal prosecutors and judges handling these cases.
- Victims of fraud, through potential changes in sentencing outcomes.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The bill limits judicial discretion by mandating minimum prison terms tied to specific dollar amounts in fraud cases. It applies only when the listed offenses meet the monetary thresholds and does not alter penalties where an original section already requires a longer term.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (3)
Rep. Owens, Burgess [R-UT-4], Rep. Hunt, Wesley [R-TX-38], Rep. Obernolte, Jay [R-CA-23]
Recent Actions
- 2026-05-21: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2026-05-21: Introduced in House
- 2026-05-21: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Zero Tolerance for Fraudsters Act of 2026 — issued 2026-05-21 — PDF (3 pages)