18 U.S.C. § 1652
Citizens as pirates
- Code
- United States Code
- Title
- 18
- Section
- 1652
- Text current through
- Pub. L. 119-111
What does the statute say?
§ 1652. Citizens as pirates
Whoever, being a citizen of the United States, commits any murder or robbery, or any act of hostility against the United States, or against any citizen thereof, on the high seas, under color of any commission from any foreign prince, or state, or on pretense of authority from any person, is a pirate, and shall be imprisoned for life.
(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 774.)
Historical and Revision Notes
Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 495 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, § 304, 35 Stat. 1147).
Words “Notwithstanding the pretense of such authority,” were omitted as surplusage.
The text is copied from the official source: uscode.house.gov. This is the stored text for research. It is not legal advice; check the official source before you rely on it.