18 USC § 1652 - Citizens as pirates

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t18/s1652"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "18 USC § 1652 - Citizens as pirates"
title_number: 18
title_name: "CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE"
section_number: "1652"
section_name: "Citizens as pirates"
chapter_number: 81
chapter_name: "PIRACY AND PRIVATEERING"
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: "(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 774.)"
---


# § 1652. Citizens as pirates

Whoever, being a citizen of the United States, commits any murder or robbery, or any act of hostility against the United States, or against any citizen thereof, on the high seas, under color of any commission from any foreign prince, or state, or on pretense of authority from any person, is a pirate, and shall be imprisoned for life.

---

**Source Credit**: (June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 774.)

### Historical and Revision Notes

Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 495 (, ).

Words “Notwithstanding the pretense of such authority,” were omitted as surplusage.