Title 18, Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-102
§1652 Citizens as Pirates
Title 18 › PART I — CRIMES › CHAPTER 81 — PIRACY AND PRIVATEERING › § 1652
Summary
A U.S. citizen who murders, robs, or attacks at sea while claiming foreign or other authority is a pirate and gets life in prison.
Full Legal Text
Title 18, §1652
Crimes and Criminal Procedure, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
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.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
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.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
18 U.S.C. § 1652
Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102