§ 877. — Mailing threatening communications from foreign country.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 18USC877]
TITLE 18--CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
PART I--CRIMES
CHAPTER 41--EXTORTION AND THREATS
Sec. 877. Mailing threatening communications from foreign
country
Whoever knowingly deposits in any post office or authorized
depository for mail matter of any foreign country any communication
addressed to any person within the United States, for the purpose of
having such communication delivered by the post office establishment of
such foreign country to the Postal Service and by it delivered to such
addressee in the United States, and as a result thereof such
communication is delivered by the post office establishment of such
foreign country to the Postal Service and by it delivered to the address
to which it is directed in the United States, and containing any demand
or request for ransom or reward for the release of any kidnapped person,
shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty
years, or both.
Whoever, with intent to extort from any person any money or other
thing of value, so deposits as aforesaid, any communication for the
purpose aforesaid, containing any threat to kidnap any person or any
threat to injure the person of the addressee or of another, shall be
fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or
both.
Whoever knowingly so deposits as aforesaid, any communication, for
the purpose aforesaid, containing any threat to kidnap any person or any
threat to injure the person of the addressee or of another, shall be
fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.
Whoever, with intent to extort from any person any money or other
thing of value, knowingly so deposits as aforesaid, any communication,
for the purpose aforesaid, containing any threat to injure the property
or reputation of the addressee or of another, or the reputation of a
deceased person, or any threat to accuse the addressee or any other
person of a crime, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not
more than two years, or both.
(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 741; Pub. L. 91-375, Sec. 6(j)(8),
Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 777; Pub. L. 103-322, title XXXIII,
Secs. 330016(1)(G), (H), (K), 330021(2), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147,
2150.)
Historical and Revision Notes
Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Sec. 338b (July 8, 1932, ch.
464, Sec. 2, 47 Stat. 649; May 15, 1939, ch. 133, Sec. 1, 53 Stat. 742).
Reference to persons causing or procuring was omitted as unnecessary
in view of definition of ``principal'' in section 2 of this title.
Provisions as to district of trial were omitted as covered by
sections 3237 and 3239 of this title.
Amendments
1994--Pub. L. 103-322, Sec. 330021(2), substituted ``kidnapped'' for
``kidnaped'' in first par.
Pub. L. 103-322, Sec. 330016(1)(K), substituted ``fined under this
title'' for ``fined not more than $5,000'' in first and second pars.
Pub. L. 103-322, Sec. 330016(1)(H), substituted ``fined under this
title'' for ``fined not more than $1,000'' in third par.
Pub. L. 103-322, Sec. 330016(1)(G), substituted ``fined under this
title'' for ``fined not more than $500'' in fourth par.
1970--Pub. L. 91-375 substituted ``Postal Service'' for ``Post
Office Department of the United States'' in two places in first par.
Effective Date of 1970 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 91-375 effective within 1 year after Aug. 12,
1970, on date established therefor by Board of Governors of United
States Postal Service and published by it in Federal Register, see
section 15(a) of Pub. L. 91-375, set out as an Effective Date note
preceding section 101 of Title 39, Postal Service.
Section Referred to in Other Sections
This section is referred to in title 8 section 1101.
