§ 2421. — Transportation generally.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 18USC2421]
TITLE 18--CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
PART I--CRIMES
CHAPTER 117--TRANSPORTATION FOR ILLEGAL SEXUAL ACTIVITY AND RELATED
CRIMES
Sec. 2421. Transportation generally
Whoever knowingly transports any individual in interstate or foreign
commerce, or in any Territory or Possession of the United States, with
intent that such individual engage in prostitution, or in any sexual
activity for which any person can be charged with a criminal offense, or
attempts to do so, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not
more than 10 years, or both.
(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 812; May 24, 1949, ch. 139, Sec. 47,
63 Stat. 96; Pub. L. 99-628, Sec. 5(b)(1), Nov. 7, 1986, 100 Stat. 3511;
Pub. L. 105-314, title I, Sec. 106, Oct. 30, 1998, 112 Stat. 2977.)
Historical and Revision Notes
1948 Act
Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Secs. 397, 398, 401, 404 (June
25, 1910, ch. 395, Secs. 1, 2, 5, 8, 36 Stat. 825-827).
Section consolidates sections 397, 398, 401, and 404 of title 18,
U.S.C., 1940 ed.
Section 397 of title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., containing a definition
of the terms ``interstate commerce'' and ``foreign commerce'' was
omitted as unnecessary in view of the definition of those terms in
section 10 of this title.
Section 401 of title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., prescribing venue was
omitted as unnecessary in view of section 3237 of this title.
Section 403 of title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., was omitted. No
definition of ``Territory'' is necessary to the revised section as it is
phrased. Construction therein of ``person'' is covered by section 1 of
title 1, U.S.C., 1940 ed., General Provisions, as amended. Last
paragraph of said section relating to construction of this chapter was
omitted as surplusage.
Words ``Possession of the United States'' were inserted in three
places in view of mission of said section 403 of title 18, U.S.C., 1940
ed., and, reference in that section to the Canal Zone is covered by
those words. This chapter applies to the Territory of Hawaii. (See Sun
Chong Lee v. United States, C.C.A. Hawaii, 1942, 125 F. 2d 95.)
Section 404 of title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., containing the short
title was omitted as not appropriate in a revision.
Reference to persons causing, procuring, aiding or assisting was
deleted as unnecessary because such persons are made principals by
section 2 of this title.
Words ``and upon conviction thereof'' were also deleted as
surplusage since punishment cannot be imposed until a conviction is
secured.
Words ``deemed guilty of a felony'' were deleted as unnecessary in
view of the definition of a felony in section 1 of this title. (See
reviser's note under section 550 of this title.)
Minor changes were also made in translations and phraseology.
1949 Act
This section [section 47] corrects a typographical error in section
2421 of title 18, U.S.C.
Amendments
1998--Pub. L. 105-314 inserted ``or attempts to do so,'' before
``shall be fined'' and substituted ``10 years'' for ``five years''.
1986--Pub. L. 99-628 amended section generally. Prior to amendment,
section read as follows:
``Whoever knowingly transports in interstate or foreign commerce, or
in the District of Columbia or in any Territory or Possession of the
United States, any woman or girl for the purpose of prostitution or
debauchery, or for any other immoral purpose, or with the intent and
purpose to induce, entice, or compel such woman or girl to become a
prostitute or to give herself up to debauchery, or to engage in any
other immoral practice; or
``Whoever knowingly procures or obtains any ticket or tickets, or
any form of transportation or evidence of the right thereto, to be used
by any woman or girl in interstate or foreign commerce, or in the
District of Columbia or any Territory or Possession of the United
States, in going to any place for the purpose of prostitution or
debauchery, or for any other immoral purpose, or with the intent or
purpose on the part of such person to induce, entice, or compel her to
give herself up to the practice of prostitution, or to give herself up
to debauchery, or any other immoral practice, whereby any such woman or
girl shall be transported in interstate or foreign commerce, or in the
District of Columbia or any Territory or Possession of the United
States--
``Shall be fined not more than $5,000 or imprisoned not more than
five years, or both.''
1949--Act May 24, 1949, corrected spelling of ``induce''.
Section Referred to in Other Sections
This section is referred to in sections 1961, 2253, 2254, 2255, 3486
of this title; title 8 section 1101; title 42 section 14135a.
