Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-73not60
§1590 Trafficking with Respect to Peonage, Slavery, Involuntary Servitude, or Forced Labor
Title 18 › Part I— CRIMES › Chapter 77— PEONAGE, SLAVERY, AND TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS › § 1590
Summary
Helping traffic someone for work is a crime punishable by a fine, up to 20 years in prison, or both; if death results or the crime includes kidnapping, aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempted killing, punishment may be any term of years or life. Obstructing enforcement carries the same penalties.
Full Legal Text
Title 18, §1590
Crimes and Criminal Procedure — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)Whoever knowingly recruits, harbors, transports, provides, or obtains by any means, any person for labor or services in violation of this chapter shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both. If death results from the violation of this section, or if the violation includes kidnapping or an attempt to kidnap, aggravated sexual abuse, or the attempt to commit aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to kill, the defendant shall be fined under this title or imprisoned for any term of years or life, or both.
(b)Whoever obstructs, attempts to obstruct, or in any way interferes with or prevents the enforcement of this section, shall be subject to the penalties under subsection (a).
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2008—Pub. L. 110–457 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a) and added subsec. (b).
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
18 U.S.C. § 1590
Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Last Updated
Apr 5, 2026
Release point: 119-73not60