§ 1658. — Plunder of distressed vessel.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 18USC1658]
TITLE 18--CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
PART I--CRIMES
CHAPTER 81--PIRACY AND PRIVATEERING
Sec. 1658. Plunder of distressed vessel
(a) Whoever plunders, steals, or destroys any money, goods,
merchandise, or other effects from or belonging to any vessel in
distress, or wrecked, lost, stranded, or cast away, upon the sea, or
upon any reef, shoal, bank, or rocks of the sea, or in any other place
within the admiralty and maritime jurisdiction of the United States,
shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years,
or both.
(b) Whoever willfully obstructs the escape of any person endeavoring
to save his life from such vessel, or the wreck thereof; or
Whoever holds out or shows any false light, or extinguishes any true
light, with intent to bring any vessel sailing upon the sea into danger
or distress or shipwreck--
Shall be imprisoned not less than ten years and may be imprisoned
for life.
(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 775; Pub. L. 103-322, title XXXIII,
Sec. 330016(1)(K), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.)
Historical and Revision Notes
Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Sec. 488 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch.
321, Sec. 297, 35 Stat. 1146).
Mandatory punishment provision in subsection (a) was rephrased in
the alternative.
Minor changes were made in phraseology.
Amendments
1994--Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 103-322 substituted ``fined under this
title'' for ``fined not more than $5,000''.
