Federal · Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal Procedure

18 U.S.C. § 2332h: Radiological dispersal devices

Felony

What this law says, in plain English

This statute criminalizes creating, possessing, or using radiological dispersal devices (weapons designed to release dangerous radiation). Violations carry mandatory minimum sentences of 25 years to life imprisonment.

Read the full statutory text
any weapon that is designed or intended to release radiation or radioactivity at a level dangerous to human life; or any device or other object that is capable of and designed or intended to endanger human life through the release of radiation or radioactivity. conduct by or under the authority of the United States or any department or agency thereof; or conduct pursuant to the terms of a contract with the United States or any department or agency thereof. the offense occurs in or affects interstate or foreign commerce; the offense occurs outside of the United States and is committed by a national of the United States; the offense is committed against a national of the United States while the national is outside the United States; the offense is committed against any property that is owned, leased, or used by the United States or by any department or agency of the United States, whether the property is within or outside the United States; or an offender aids or abets any person over whom jurisdiction exists under this subsection in committing an offense under this section or conspires with any person over whom jurisdiction exists under this subsection to commit an offense under this section. Any person who violates, or attempts or conspires to violate, subsection (a) shall be fined not more than $2,000,000 and shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment not less than 25 years or to imprisonment for life. Any person who, in the course of a violation of subsection (a), uses, attempts or conspires to use, or possesses and threatens to use, any item or items described in subsection (a), shall be fined not more than $2,000,000 and imprisoned for not less than 30 years or imprisoned for life. If the death of another results from a person’s violation of subsection (a), the person shall be fined not more than $2,000,000 and punished by imprisonment for life.

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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.