18 U.S.C. § 1654
Section 1654 · Arming or serving on privateers
Amended 2 times on record
Applied in 2 court decisions — leading case 644 F. Supp. 2d 50 - Sturdza v. United Arab Emirates (2009)
Most recently applied in 644 F. Supp. 2d 50 - Sturdza v. United Arab Emirates (July 2009)
How often courts cite this section
Court decisions citing this, by year.Markers show enactment, consequential amendments, and circuit splits over this section — watch for a citation surge after a change or a disagreement. The dip in the last several years is a data-coverage gap, not a real trend — our corpus holds fewer opinions from the most recent years, so recent citations are undercounted.
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.
Editorial notes U.S. Code · Office of the Law Revision Counsel
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.
Amendments
1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $10,000” in last par.