Lying to a government agent is THE single leading conviction in federal prison. It is the disorderly conduct, disturbing the peace, charge equivalent of the states. When the authorities can't get you on anything else--meaning you have done nothing wrong but you are still to be got--they charge you with this "crime." You are found guilty because there is no defense against a made up crime that a judge has accepted in his courtroom and a judge sentences you convict you. Typically (actually almost always you spend several years in a cage. $2,500. Nice if you can get it.