18 USC § 2426 - Repeat offenders

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t18/s2426"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "18 USC § 2426 - Repeat offenders"
title_number: 18
title_name: "CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE"
section_number: "2426"
section_name: "Repeat offenders"
chapter_number: 117
chapter_name: "TRANSPORTATION FOR ILLEGAL SEXUAL ACTIVITY AND RELATED CRIMES"
part_number: "I"
part_name: "CRIMES"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-21"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Added Pub. L. 105–314, title I, § 104(a), Oct. 30, 1998, 112 Stat. 2976; amended Pub. L. 108–21, title I, § 106(b), Apr. 30, 2003, 117 Stat. 655; Pub. L. 110–457, title II, § 224(c), Dec. 23, 2008, 122 Stat. 5072; Pub. L. 115–392, § 11(2), Dec. 21, 2018, 132 Stat. 5255; Pub. L. 118–159, div. A, title V, § 569(5), Dec. 23, 2024, 138 Stat. 1906.)"
---


# § 2426. Repeat offenders

**(a)** **Maximum Term of Imprisonment.—** The maximum term of imprisonment for a violation of this chapter after a prior sex offense conviction shall be 3 times the term of imprisonment otherwise provided by this chapter, unless section 3559(e) applies.

**(b)** **Definitions.—** In this section—

**(1)** the term “prior sex offense conviction” means a conviction for an offense—

**(A)** under this chapter, chapter 109A, chapter 110, or section 1591; or

**(B)** under State law or the Uniform Code of Military Justice for an offense consisting of conduct that would have been an offense under a chapter referred to in subparagraph (A) if the conduct had occurred within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States; and

**(2)** the term “State” means a State of the United States, the District of Columbia, and any commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States.

---

**Source Credit**: (Added Pub. L. 105–314, title I, § 104(a), Oct. 30, 1998, 112 Stat. 2976; amended Pub. L. 108–21, title I, § 106(b), Apr. 30, 2003, 117 Stat. 655; Pub. L. 110–457, title II, § 224(c), Dec. 23, 2008, 122 Stat. 5072; Pub. L. 115–392, § 11(2), Dec. 21, 2018, 132 Stat. 5255; Pub. L. 118–159, div. A, title V, § 569(5), Dec. 23, 2024, 138 Stat. 1906.)

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2024—Subsec. (b)(1)(B).  inserted “or the Uniform Code of Military Justice” after “State law”.

2018—Subsec. (a). , substituted “3 times” for “twice”.

Subsec. (b)(1)(B). , substituted “subparagraph (A)” for “paragraph (1)”.

2008—Subsec. (b)(1)(A).  substituted “chapter 110, or section 1591” for “or chapter 110”.

2003—Subsec. (a).  inserted “, unless section 3559(e) applies” before period at end.