Us Code § 1652 - Citizens as pirates
Full text of Us Code United States Code § 1652 — Citizens as pirates, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 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.
About This Section
18 U.S.C. § 1652 is part of Title 18 of the United States Code. The United States Code is the official codification of federal statutes maintained by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives. Congress amends the Code through new public laws, which are eventually incorporated into the relevant title.
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