2021 US Code
Title 18 - Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Part I - Crimes
Chapter 81 - Piracy and Privateering
Sec. 1658 - Plunder of distressed vessel

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Citation 18 U.S.C. § 1658 (2021)
Section Name §1658. Plunder of distressed vessel
Section Text

(a) Whoever plunders, steals, or destroys any money, goods, merchandise, or other effects from or belonging to any vessel in distress, or wrecked, lost, stranded, or cast away, upon the sea, or upon any reef, shoal, bank, or rocks of the sea, or in any other place within the admiralty and maritime jurisdiction of the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both.

(b) Whoever willfully obstructs the escape of any person endeavoring to save his life from such vessel, or the wreck thereof; or

Whoever holds out or shows any false light, or extinguishes any true light, with intent to bring any vessel sailing upon the sea into danger or distress or shipwreck—

Shall be imprisoned not less than ten years and may be imprisoned for life.

Source Credit

(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 775; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, §330016(1)(K), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.)

Editorial Notes HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES

Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., §488 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, §297, 35 Stat. 1146).

Mandatory punishment provision in subsection (a) was rephrased in the alternative.

Minor changes were made in phraseology.


EDITORIAL NOTES AMENDMENTS

1994—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 103–322 substituted "fined under this title" for "fined not more than $5,000".

Publication Title United States Code, 2018 Edition, Supplement 3, Title 18 - CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
Category Bills and Statutes
Collection United States Code
SuDoc Class Number Y 1.2/5:
Contained Within Title 18 - CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
PART I - CRIMES
CHAPTER 81 - PIRACY AND PRIVATEERING
Sec. 1658 - Plunder of distressed vessel
Contains section 1658
Date 2021
Laws In Effect As Of Date January 3, 2022
Positive Law Yes
Disposition standard
Statutes at Large References 35 Stat. 1146
62 Stat. 775
108 Stat. 2147
Public Law References Public Law 103-322
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