The way the law is written you can be prosecuted for lying to your postman. Martha Stewart was not under oath when she lied to a federal agent and was sent to

The way the law is written you can be prosecuted for lying to your postman. Martha Stewart was not under oath when she lied to a federal agent and was sent to jail for six months based on the agent's handwritten notes of that interview. http://www.wisenberglaw.com/Articles/How-to-Avoid-Going-to-Jail-under-18-U-S-C-Section-1001-for-Lying-to-Government-Agents.shtml http://www.wisenberglaw.com/Articles/How-to-Avoid-Going-to-J... >Did you know that it is a crime to tell a lie to the federal government? Even if your lie is oral and not under oath? Even if you have received no warnings of any kind? Even if you are not trying to cheat the government out of money? Even if the government is not actually misled by your falsehood? Well it is.