# Justice Manual § 9-42.191: Application of Appropriate Statute

> Federal · Agency guidance · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-42.191

## Section

- **Citation:** Justice Manual § 9-42.191
- **Heading:** Application of Appropriate Statute
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Agency guidance
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** DOJ Justice Manual / Title 9: Criminal / 9-42.000 - Fraud Against the Government / Justice Manual § 9-42.191

## Text

It is the policy of the Department that in those instances in which the United States Attorney (USA) has a choice of statutes, charges normally should be brought pursuant to the more specific statute. In those cases in which special aggravating circumstances exist, the USA retains the discretion to charge a violation of the more serious general statute.

[updated January 2020]

## Nearby sections

- [Justice Manual § 9-42.001 Introduction](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-42.001.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-42.010 Coordination of Criminal and Civil Fraud Against the Government Cases](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-42.010.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-42.160 False Statements to a Federal Criminal Investigator](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-42.160.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-42.191 Application of Appropriate Statute](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-42.191.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-42.420 Federal Procurement Fraud Unit](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-42.420.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-42.430 Department of Defense Voluntary Disclosure Program](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-42.430.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-42.440 Provisions for the Handling of Qui Tam Suits Filed Under the False Claims Act](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-42.440.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-42.451 Plea Bargaining in Medicare-Medicaid Frauds](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-42.451.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-42.500 Referral Procedures—Relationship and Coordination With the Statutory Inspectors General](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-42.500.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-42.510 Social Security Fraud](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-42.510.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-42.530 Department of Defense Memorandum of Understanding](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-42.530.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-42.191. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.