42 U.S.C. § 14944 — Enforcement

(a) Civil penalties. Anyone who (1) violates section 14921 (the accreditation requirement); (2) makes a false or fraudulent statement or misrepresentation about a material fact, or offers, gives, solicits, or accepts a bribe, meant to influence — in the U.S. or a foreign country — (A) an accrediting entity's decision on accreditation or approval, (B) a parent's relinquishment of parental rights or consent to an adoption in a Convention case, or (C) a decision or action by any entity performing a central-authority function; or (3) uses another person as an agent, in the U.S. or abroad, who takes any of the actions in paragraph (1) or (2) — is liable, on top of any other legal penalty, for a civil money penalty of up to $50,000 for a first violation and up to $100,000 for each violation after that. (b) Civil enforcement. (1) Authority of Attorney General. The Attorney General may bring a civil action in any U.S. district court to enforce subsection (a) against any person. (2) Factors to be considered in imposing penalties. In setting the penalty, the court must consider how serious the violation was, how culpable the defendant is, and any history of prior violations. (c) Criminal penalties. Anyone who knowingly and willfully violates paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (a) can be fined up to $250,000, imprisoned for up to 5 years, or both.