Federal · Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal Procedure

18 U.S.C. § 1652: Citizens as pirates

Felony

What this law says, in plain English

A U.S. citizen who commits murder, robbery, or hostile acts against the United States or its citizens on the high seas under foreign authority or false pretense is a pirate and subject to life imprisonment.

Read the full statutory text

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.

Verify at the official source: Federal legislative text

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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.