§ 2422. — Coercion and enticement.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 18USC2422]
TITLE 18--CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
PART I--CRIMES
CHAPTER 117--TRANSPORTATION FOR ILLEGAL SEXUAL ACTIVITY AND RELATED
CRIMES
Sec. 2422. Coercion and enticement
(a) Whoever knowingly persuades, induces, entices, or coerces any
individual to travel in interstate or foreign commerce, or in any
Territory or Possession of the United States, to 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.
(b) Whoever, using the mail or any facility or means of interstate
or foreign commerce, or within the special maritime and territorial
jurisdiction of the United States knowingly persuades, induces, entices,
or coerces any individual who has not attained the age of 18 years, to
engage in prostitution or 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, imprisoned not more than 15 years, or both.
(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 812; Pub. L. 99-628, Sec. 5(b)(1),
Nov. 7, 1986, 100 Stat. 3511; Pub. L. 100-690, title VII, Sec. 7070,
Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4405; Pub. L. 104-104, title V, Sec. 508, Feb.
8, 1996, 110 Stat. 137; Pub. L. 105-314, title I, Sec. 102, Oct. 30,
1998, 112 Stat. 2975.)
Historical and Revision Notes
Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Sec. 399 (June 25, 1910, ch.
395, Sec. 3, 36 Stat. 825).
Words ``deemed guilty of a felony'' were deleted as unnecessary in
view of definition of felony in section 1 of this title. (See reviser's
note under section 550 of this title.)
Words ``and on conviction thereof shall be'' were deleted as
surplusage since punishment cannot be imposed until a conviction is
secured.
The references to persons causing, procuring, aiding or assisting
were omitted as unnecessary as such persons are made principals by
section 2 of this title.
Words ``Possession of the United States'' were inserted twice. (See
reviser's note under section 2421 of this title.)
Minor changes were made in phraseology.
Amendments
1998--Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 105-314, Sec. 102(1), inserted ``or
attempts to do so,'' before ``shall be fined'' and substituted ``10
years'' for ``five years''.
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 105-314, Sec. 102(2), added subsec. (b) and
struck out former subsec. (b) which read as follows: ``Whoever, using
any facility or means of interstate or foreign commerce, including the
mail, or within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the
United States, knowingly persuades, induces, entices, or coerces any
individual who has not attained the age of 18 years to engage in
prostitution or any sexual act for which any person may be criminally
prosecuted, or attempts to do so, shall be fined under this title or
imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both.''
1996--Pub. L. 104-104 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a)
and added subsec. (b).
1988--Pub. L. 100-690 substituted ``or'' for ``of'' before ``foreign
commerce''.
1986--Pub. L. 99-628 substituted ``and enticement'' for ``or
enticement of female'' in section catchline and amended text generally.
Prior to amendment, text read as follows: ``Whoever knowingly persuades,
induces, entices, or coerces any woman or girl to go from one place to
another in interstate or foreign commerce, or in the District of
Columbia or in any Territory or Possession of the United States, for the
purpose of prostitution or debauchery, or for any other immoral purpose,
or with the intent and purpose on the part of such person that such
woman or girl shall engage in the practice of prostitution or
debauchery, or any other immoral practice, whether with or without her
consent, and thereby knowingly causes such woman or girl to go and to be
carried or transported as a passenger upon the line or route of any
common carrier or carriers in interstate or foreign commerce, or in the
District of Columbia or in 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.''
Section Referred to in Other Sections
This section is referred to in sections 1961, 2253, 2254, 2255,
3486, 3559 of this title; title 8 section 1101; title 42 section 14135a.
