>"It seems self-evident that section 1001 is intended to promote the
>smooth functioning of government agencies and the expeditious processing
>of the government's business by ensuring that those who deal with the
>government furnish information on which the government confidently may
>rely. To this end, section 1001 in and of itself constitutes a blanket
>proscription against the making of false statements to federal agencies.
>Thus, while section 1001 prohibits falsification in connection with
>documents that persons are required by law to file with agencies of the
>federal government, ... its prohibitory sweep is not limited to such
>documents. The statute equally forbids falsification of any other
>statement, whether or not legally required, made to a federal
>agency."--U.S. v. Arcadipane, 41 F.3d 1 (1st Cir. 1994).
>
>It's punishable by fine or up to 5 (!) years in prison. I'd say Chalabi
>and his INC minions could be in some trouble.
Didn't they get Martha Stewart on something like this - lying to a federal agent?
Doug