Federal · Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal Procedure

18 U.S.C. § 1590: Trafficking with respect to peonage, slavery, involuntary servitude, or forced labor

Felony

What this law says, in plain English

Federal law criminalizes knowingly recruiting, harboring, or transporting persons for labor in violation of trafficking statutes, punishable by up to 20 years imprisonment. Enhanced penalties apply if death, kidnapping, aggravated sexual abuse, or attempted murder results.

Read the full statutory text

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. 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).

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This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.