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Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-73

§229A Penalties

Title 18 › Part PART I— - CRIMES › Chapter CHAPTER 11B— - CHEMICAL WEAPONS › § 229A

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Breaking the law is a federal crime punishable by fines, prison for any term of years, or both. If the violation causes someone’s death, the person can be put to death or given life in prison. The Attorney General can sue in federal court. If the government proves the violation is more likely than not, the court can order a civil fine up to $100,000 for each offense. A person convicted must repay the United States for costs to seize, store, move, and destroy property tied to the case. If more than one person must pay, each can be held responsible for the whole amount.

Full Legal Text

Title 18, §229A

Crimes and Criminal Procedure — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)(1)Any person who violates section 229 of this title shall be fined under this title, or imprisoned for any term of years, or both.
(2)Any person who violates section 229 of this title and by whose action the death of another person is the result shall be punished by death or imprisoned for life.
(b)(1)The Attorney General may bring a civil action in the appropriate United States district court against any person who violates section 229 of this title and, upon proof of such violation by a preponderance of the evidence, such person shall be subject to pay a civil penalty in an amount not to exceed $100,000 for each such violation.
(2)The imposition of a civil penalty under this subsection does not preclude any other criminal or civil statutory, common law, or administrative remedy, which is available by law to the United States or any other person.
(c)The court shall order any person convicted of an offense under subsection (a) to reimburse the United States for any expenses incurred by the United States incident to the seizure, storage, handling, transportation, and destruction or other disposition of any property that was seized in connection with an investigation of the commission of the offense by that person. A person ordered to reimburse the United States for expenses under this subsection shall be jointly and severally liable for such expenses with each other person, if any, who is ordered under this subsection to reimburse the United States for the same expenses.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

18 U.S.C. § 229A

Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal Procedure

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73