Interesting crime...
Is it a crime?
If you give me a $100 Gold coin that’s legal tender, the gold in the coin may have a value far and above $100... but as far as legal tender its worth $100. Is the Federal Government going to argue that is own legal tender is not legal tender?
I mean the rule of law means nothing anymore anyway, but still... think about it a bit.
Paying independent contractors in legal tender is not a crime