18 U.S.C. § 880 — Receiving the proceeds of extortion

This law punishes a person who deals with money or property that came from an extortion offense under this chapter, as shown by the section's heading. It applies to four actions: receiving, possessing, concealing, or disposing of the money or property. The money or property must have come from an offense under this chapter that carries a prison term of more than 1 year. The person must also know that the money or property was unlawfully obtained. If the person did not know this, the law does not apply. A person who does one of these four things, while knowing the property came from unlawful extortion, can be imprisoned for up to 3 years. A court can also fine the person under this title. A court can impose both the prison term and the fine together, or either one alone. This section does not set a minimum prison term or fine amount.

The record indicates that this section was added to Title 18 by Public Law 103–322, title XXXII, § 320601(a)(1), enacted September 13, 1994, and appearing at 108 Stat. 2115. The source credit reflects no subsequent amendments beyond this original enactment; the "amendmentCount" of one corresponds to this single addition, not a later revision. Public Law 103–322 is widely known as the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, a large omnibus crime bill enacted during a period of heightened congressional attention to violent crime, kidnapping, and organized criminal enterprises. The Act is generally understood to have expanded federal criminal law across many subject areas, including provisions addressing extortion, kidnapping, and related offenses, often by adding ancillary offenses that reach conduct connected to an underlying crime. Within that broader context, § 880's placement in the extortion chapter and its focus on receiving or concealing proceeds of extortion-related offenses is consistent with a common legislative approach of that era: criminalizing not only the underlying offense but also the handling of its proceeds, so as to reach those who profit from or help conceal the fruits of such crimes. However, the record does not establish the specific legislative intent behind this particular provision, and no committee report language, sponsor statements, or floor debate excerpts are available here to confirm why Congress chose this precise formulation. Readers seeking definitive legislative history should consult the official congressional record for Public Law 103–322.