6 U.S.C. § 396 — Use of proceeds derived from criminal investigations

**(a) United States Secret Service use of proceeds derived from criminal investigations** During fiscal year 2014 and thereafter, with respect to any undercover investigative operation of the United States Secret Service (hereafter referred to in this section as the “Secret Service”) that is necessary for the detection and prosecution of crimes against the United States— (1) sums appropriated for the Secret Service, including unobligated balances available from prior fiscal years, may be used for purchasing property, buildings, and other facilities, and for leasing space, within the United States, the District of Columbia, and the territories and possessions of the United States, without regard to sections 1341 and 3324 of title 31, [section 8141 of title 40](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title40-section8141&num=0&edition=prelim), sections 6301(a), (b)(1) to (3) and 6306(a) of title 41, and section 3901 and chapter 45 of title 41; (2) sums appropriated for the Secret Service, including unobligated balances available from prior fiscal years, may be used to establish or to acquire proprietary corporations or business entities as part of such undercover operation, and to operate such corporations or business entities on a commercial basis, without regard to sections 9102 and 9103 of title 31; (3) sums appropriated for the Secret Service, including unobligated balances available from prior fiscal years and the proceeds from such undercover operation, may be deposited in banks or other financial institutions, without regard to [section 648 of title 18](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title18-section648&num=0&edition=prelim) and [section 3302 of title 31](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title31-section3302&num=0&edition=prelim); and (4) proceeds from such undercover operation may be used to offset necessary and reasonable expenses incurred in such operation, without regard to [section 3302 of title 31](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title31-section3302&num=0&edition=prelim). **(b) Written certification** The authority set forth in subsection (a) may be exercised only upon the written certification of the Director of the Secret Service or designee that any action authorized by any paragraph of such subsection is necessary for the conduct of an undercover investigative operation. Such certification shall continue in effect for the duration of such operation, without regard to fiscal years. **(c) Deposit of proceeds in Treasury** As soon as practicable after the proceeds from an undercover investigative operation with respect to which an action is authorized and carried out under paragraphs (3) and (4) of subsection (a) are no longer necessary for the conduct of such operation, such proceeds or the balance of such proceeds remaining at the time shall be deposited in the Treasury of the United States as miscellaneous receipts. **(d) Reporting and deposit of proceeds upon disposition of certain business entities** If a corporation or business entity established or acquired as part of an undercover investigative operation under paragraph (2) of subsection (a) with a net value of over $50,000 is to be liquidated, sold, or otherwise disposed of, the Secret Service, as much in advance as the Director or designee determines is practicable, shall report the circumstance to the Secretary of Homeland Security. The proceeds of the liquidation, sale, or other disposition, after obligations are met, shall be deposited in the Treasury of the United States as miscellaneous receipts. **(e) Financial audits and reports** (1) The Secret Service shall conduct detailed financial audits of closed undercover investigative operations for which a written certification was made pursuant to subsection (b) on a quarterly basis and shall report the results of the audits in writing to the Secretary of Homeland Security. (2) The Secretary of Homeland Security shall annually submit to the Committees on Appropriations of the Senate and House of Representatives, at the time that the President’s budget is submitted under [section 1105(a) of title 31](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title31-section1105/a&num=0&edition=prelim), a summary of such audits.