No. 97-1014. Heard June 4, 1997. Decided August 13, 1997. Claudia J. Reed, with whom David J. Noonan and Cohen, Rosenthal P.C. were on brief for appellant. Jeffrey Clair, Attorney, Appellate Staff Civil Division, Department of Justice, with whom Frank W. Hunger, Assistant Attorney General, Donald K. Stern, United States Attorney, and William Kanter, Attorney, Appellate Staff Civil Division, Department of Justice, were on brief for appellee. Appeal from the United States District Court for the District
(a) Whoever in exchange for either a loan of money or other property knowingly contracts for, charges, takes or receives, directly or indirectly, interest and expenses the aggregate of which exceeds an amount greater than twenty per centum per annum upon the sum loaned or the equivalent rate for a longer or shorter period, shall be guilty of criminal usury and shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than ten years or by a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars, or by