Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-73not60
§1654 Arming or Serving on Privateers
Title 18 › Part I— CRIMES › Chapter 81— PIRACY AND PRIVATEERING › § 1654
Summary
A U.S. citizen abroad who outfits, arms, commands, boards, or buys into a private warship intended to attack U.S. citizens or their property commits a crime. The punishment can be a fine, up to 10 years in prison, or both.
Full Legal Text
Title 18, §1654
Crimes and Criminal Procedure — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Whoever, being a citizen of the United States, without the limits thereof, fits out and arms, or attempts to fit out and arm or is concerned in furnishing, fitting out, or arming any private vessel of war or privateer, with intent that such vessel shall be employed to cruise or commit hostilities upon the citizens of the United States or their property; or Whoever takes the command of or enters on board of any such vessel with such intent; or Whoever purchases any interest in any such vessel with a view to share in the profits thereof— Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 494 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, § 303, 35 Stat. 1147). Reference to persons procuring or aiding was omitted as unnecessary in view of definition of “principal” in section 2 of this title. Mandatory punishment provisions were rephrased in the alternative. The last sentence relating to venue was omitted as unnecessary in view of the general provision to the same effect in section 3238 of this title. Minor changes were made in phraseology and arrangement.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $10,000” in last par.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
18 U.S.C. § 1654
Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Last Updated
Apr 5, 2026
Release point: 119-73not60