Federal · Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal Procedure

18 U.S.C. § 2271: Conspiracy to destroy vessels

Felony

What this law says, in plain English

It is a federal crime to conspire to destroy a vessel on the high seas or in U.S. waters with intent to defraud insurance companies or lenders. Conviction carries imprisonment up to 10 years and/or fines.

Read the full statutory text
Whoever, on the high seas, or within the United States, willfully and corruptly conspires, combines, and confederates with any other person, such other person being either within or without the United States, to cast away or otherwise destroy any vessel, with intent to injure any person that may have underwritten or may thereafter underwrite any policy of insurance thereon or on goods on board thereof, or with intent to injure any person that has lent or advanced, or may lend or advance, any money on such vessel on bottomry or respondentia; or Whoever, within the United States, builds, or fits out any vessel to be cast away or destroyed, with like intent— Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both.

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.