# § 1584. Sale into involuntary servitude
**(a)** Whoever knowingly and willfully holds to involuntary servitude or sells into any condition of involuntary servitude, any other person for any term, or brings within the United States any person so held, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both. If death results from the violation of this section, or if the violation includes kidnapping or an attempt to kidnap, aggravated sexual abuse or the attempt to commit aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to kill, the defendant shall be fined under this title or imprisoned for any term of years or life, or both.
**(b)** Whoever obstructs, attempts to obstruct, or in any way interferes with or prevents the enforcement of this section, shall be subject to the penalties described in subsection (a).
---
**Source Credit**: (June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 773; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(K), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147; Pub. L. 104–208, div. C, title II, § 218(a), Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 3009–573; Pub. L. 106–386, div. A, § 112(a)(1), Oct. 28, 2000, 114 Stat. 1486; Pub. L. 110–457, title II, § 222(b)(2), Dec. 23, 2008, 122 Stat. 5068.)
### Historical and Revision Notes
Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., §§ 423, 446 (, §§ 248, 271, , 1142).
Sections consolidated with changes of phraseology necessary to effect consolidation.
Reference to persons causing or procuring was omitted as unnecessary in view of definition of “principal” in .
Provisions as to holding of kidnapped persons were omitted as superseded by and original text relating to sale or holding to involuntary servitude retained.
Words “within the United States” were substituted for “within the jurisdiction of the United States”. (See defining “United States”.)
The punishment provisions were derived from , U.S.C., 1940 ed., as more consistent with other sections of this chapter.
The requirement of , U.S.C., 1940 ed., for payment of one-half the fine “for the use of the person prosecuting the indictment to effect” was omitted as meaningless. (See also reviser’s note under .)
Mandatory-punishment provisions were rephrased in the alternative.
Minor changes were made in phraseology.
## Editorial Notes
### Amendments
2008— designated existing provisions as subsec. (a) and added subsec. (b).
2000— substituted “20 years” for “10 years” and inserted at end “If death results from the violation of this section, or if the violation includes kidnapping or an attempt to kidnap, aggravated sexual abuse or the attempt to commit aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to kill, the defendant shall be fined under this title or imprisoned for any term of years or life, or both.”
1996— substituted “10 years” for “five years”.
1994— substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $5,000”.
## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
### Effective Date of 1996 Amendment
Amendment by applicable with respect to offenses occurring on or after , see , set out as a note under .