Federal Prosecution

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Our Services Support and Payments Make Payments Frequently Asked Payment Questions Receive Payments Child Support Orders Get an Order Enforce an Order Income Withholding Garnishing Accounts Credit Reporting Intercepting Lottery Winnings Intercepting Federal Tax Refunds Intercepting State Tax Refunds Withholding Federal Benefits/Retirement Accounts Suspending Licenses Filing Liens Intercepting PERSI Retirement Benefits Passport Denials Establishing Judgments Contempt Action Federal Prosecution Change an Order Other Services Apply for Services Locate a Parent Parents in Other States Medical Support Establish Legal Fatherhood About Establishing Legal Fatherhood Genetic Testing Ending Services Fees for Services Child Support and Other State Agencies Forms	Federal Prosecution The Child Support Recovery Act of 1992 makes it a Federal crime to willfully fail to pay a past-due child support obligation for a child living in another state. Under the felony provision of the Act, the past-due obligation must be at least $10,000 or must have remained unpaid for more than 2 years. Under the misdemeanor provision of the Act, the past–due child support obligation must be greater than $5000 or must have remained unpaid for more than 1 year. The penalty for failure to pay support for a child living in another state is punishable by up to six months imprisonment and/or a fine. Second and subsequent violations are punishable by two years imprisonment and/or a fine. The U.S. Attorney’s office will not accept a referral for cases with a past-due obligation that only meets the minimum qualifications. Because only a few cases are accepted each year, only cases that have a past-due obligation of at least $20,000 and have remained unpaid for more than 2 years are referred. If you wish to discuss Federal prosecution, please call 1-800-356-9868.