8.18 Illegal Gratuity to Witness (18 U.S.C. Sec. 201(c)(2)) is a federal law that prohibits a person from directly or indirectly giving anything of value to a witness or potential witness in a federal criminal case in an effort to influence their testimony. This gratuity is illegal regardless of whether the witness actually testifies or not. The types of illegal gratuity to witness include both tangible and intangible items, such as money, gifts, favors, or promises of future benefits. This law applies to all federal criminal cases, including those in which the witness is not a party to the case. Violation of this law can result in up to two years in prison and/or a fine.




