Penal Provision.—

Sec. 512. Penal Provision.— Whoever offers or gives to anyone who is or in the preceding two years has been an employee or officer of the United States any commission, payment, or girt, in connection with the procurement of equipment, materials, commodities, or services under this Act in connection with which procurement said officer, employee, former officer or former employee is or was employed or performed duty or took any action during such employment, and whoever, being or having been an employee or officer of the United States in the preceding two years, solicits, accepts, or offers to accept any commission, payment, or gift in connection with the procurement of equipment, materials, commodities, or services under this Act in connection with which procurement said officer, employee, former officer or former employee is or was employed or performed duty or took any action during such employment, shall upon conviction thereof be subject to a fine of not to exceed $10,000 or imprisonment for not to exceed three years, or both: Provided, That this section shall not apply to persons appointed pursuant to sections 308 or 530 (a) of this Act.