Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Part I · Chapter 95 — Racketeering
§ 1952. Interstate and foreign travel or transportation in aid of racketeering enterprises
Statutory text
Whoever travels in interstate or foreign commerce or uses the mail or any facility in interstate or foreign commerce, with intent to—
distribute the proceeds of any unlawful activity; or
commit any crime of violence to further any unlawful activity; or
otherwise promote, manage, establish, carry on, or facilitate the promotion, management, establishment, or carrying on, of any unlawful activity,
and thereafter performs or attempts to perform—
an act described in paragraph (1) or (3) shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both; or
an act described in paragraph (2) shall be fined under this title, imprisoned for not more than 20 years, or both, and if death results shall be imprisoned for any term of years or for life.
As used in this section (i) “unlawful activity” means (1) any business enterprise involving gambling, liquor on which the Federal excise tax has not been paid, narcotics or controlled substances (as defined in section 102(6) of the Controlled Substances Act), or prostitution offenses in violation of the laws of the State in which they are committed or of the United States, (2) extortion, bribery, or arson in violation of the laws of the State in which committed or of the United States, or (3) any act which is indictable under subchapter II of chapter 53 of title 31, United States Code, or under section 1956 or 1957 of this title and (ii) the term “State” includes a State of the United States, the District of Columbia, and any commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States.
Investigations of violations under this section involving liquor shall be conducted under the supervision of the Attorney General.
If the offense under this section involves an act described in paragraph (1) or (3) of subsection (a) and also involves a pre-retail medical product (as defined in section 670), the punishment for the offense shall be the same as the punishment for an offense under section 670 unless the punishment under subsection (a) is greater.
This section shall not apply to a savings promotion raffle conducted by an insured depository institution or an insured credit union.
In this subsection—
the term “insured credit union” shall have the meaning given the term in section 101 of the Federal Credit Union Act (12 U.S.C. 1752);
the term “insured depository institution” shall have the meaning given the term in section 3 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813); and
the term “savings promotion raffle” means a contest in which the sole consideration required for a chance of winning designated prizes is obtained by the deposit of a specified amount of money in a savings account or other savings program, where each ticket or entry has an equal chance of being drawn, such contest being subject to regulations that may from time to time be promulgated by the appropriate prudential regulator (as defined in section 1002 of the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010 (12 U.S.C. 5481)).
Legislative history
Reconstructed from this section’s Code source credit and amendment notes, resolved against the local Statutes at Large. Editorial notes are evidence, not the law that made the change.
Pub. L. 87–228 § 1(a) · 75 Stat. 498
Enacted · 18 U.S.C. § 1952
Added Pub. L. 87–228, § 1(a), Sept. 13, 1961, 75 Stat. 498
Source evidence
Code source credit
Added Pub. L. 87–228, § 1(a), Sept. 13, 1961, 75 Stat. 498Pub. L. 89–68 · 79 Stat. 212
Changed · 18 U.S.C. § 1952(b)(2)
Pub. L. 89–68 made section applicable to travel in aid of arson
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 89–68 made section applicable to travel in aid of arson.Controlled Substances Act
Pub. L. 91–513 § 701(i)(2)(A) · 84 Stat. 1236
Inserted · 18 U.S.C. § 1952(b)(1)
Pub. L. 91–513, § 701(i)(2)(A), inserted “or controlled substances (as defined in section 102(6) of the Controlled Substances Act)”
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 91–513, § 701(i)(2)(A), inserted “or controlled substances (as defined in section 102(6) of the Controlled Substances Act)”.Enacted provision · exact public law section
(A) by inserting in subsection (b)(1) “or controlled substances (as defined in section 102(6) of the Controlled Substances Act)” immediately following “narcotics”; andControlled Substances Act
Pub. L. 91–513 § 701(i)(2)(B) · 84 Stat. 1236
Struck · 18 U.S.C. § 1952(c)
Pub. L. 91–513, § 701(i)(2)(B), struck out reference to investigations involving narcotics
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 91–513, § 701(i)(2)(B), struck out reference to investigations involving narcotics.Enacted provision · exact public law section
(B) by striking out “or narcotics” in subsection (c).Money Laundering Control Act of 1986
Pub. L. 99–570 title I § 1365(a) · 100 Stat. 3207
Added · 18 U.S.C. § 1952(b)(3)
Pub. L. 99–570 added cl. (3)
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 99–570 added cl. (3).Enacted provision · exact public law section
(a) Subsection (b) of section 1952 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by striking out “or” before “(2)”, and by striking out the period at the end thereof and inserting in lieu thereof the following: “, or (3) any act which is indictable under subchapter II of chapter 31 USC 5331 et seq. 53 of title 31, United States Code, or under section 1956 or 1957 of this title.”.Crime Control Act of 1990
Pub. L. 101–647 § 1604 · 104 Stat. 4789
Inserted · 18 U.S.C. § 1952(a)
Pub. L. 101–647, § 1604, inserted “the mail or” after “uses”
Struck · 18 U.S.C. § 1952(a)
Pub. L. 101–647, § 1604, struck out “including the mail,” before “with intent” in introductory provisions
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 101–647, § 1604, inserted “the mail or” after “uses” and struck out “including the mail,” before “with intent” in introductory provisions.Enacted provision · exact public law section
SEC. 1604. CLARIFICATION OF APPLICABILITY OF 18 U.S.C. 1952 TO ALL MAILINGS IN FURTHERANCE OF UNLAWFUL ACTIVITY. Section 1952(a) of title 18, United States Code, is amended— (1) by inserting “the mail or” after “uses”; and (2) by striking out “including the mail,”.Crime Control Act of 1990
Pub. L. 101–647 § 1205(i) · 104 Stat. 4789
Inserted · 18 U.S.C. § 1952(b)
Pub. L. 101–647, § 1205(i), inserted “(i)” after “As used in this section”
Added · 18 U.S.C. § 1952(b)
Pub. L. 101–647, § 1205(i), added cl. (ii)
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 101–647, § 1205(i), inserted “(i)” after “As used in this section” and added cl. (ii).Enacted provision · exact public law section
(i) Section 1952(b) of title 18, United States Code, is amended— (1) by inserting “(i)” after “As used in this section”; and (2) by inserting “and (ii) the term ‘State’ includes a State of the United States, the District of Columbia, and any commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States” before the period.Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994
Pub. L. 103–322 § 330016(1)(L) · 108 Stat. 1796
Substituted · 18 U.S.C. § 1952
Pub. L. 103–322, § 330016(1)(L), which directed the amendment of this section by substituting “under this title” for “not more than $10,000”, could not be executed because the phrase “not more than $10,000” did not appear in text subsequent to amendment of subsec. (a) by Pub. L. 103–322, § 140007(a). See below
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Pub. L. 103–322, § 330016(1)(L), which directed the amendment of this section by substituting “under this title” for “not more than $10,000”, could not be executed because the phrase “not more than $10,000” did not appear in text subsequent to amendment of subsec. (a) by Pub. L. 103–322, § 140007(a). See below.Enacted provision · exact public law section
(L) in sections 33, 224, 231, 241, 245, 246, 286, 289, 332, 335, 337, 351, 371, 437, 440, 441, 493, 496, 500, 510, 545, 595, 599, 600, 601, 641, 664, 665, 667, 757, 792, 793, 798, 844, 892, 893, 894, 924, 952, 955, 962, 963, 964, 965, 966, 967, 970, 1001, 1002, 1003, 1019, 1020, 1022, 1023, 1027, 1082, 1084, 1115, 1202, 1361, 1362, 1364, 1365, 1385, 1461, 1462, 1464, 1587, 1623, 1654, 1656, 1735, 1737, 1751, 1902, 1903, 1904, 1910, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1958, 1992, 2101, 2113, 2153, 2154, 2155, 2156, 2231, 2232, 2271, 2274, 2275, 2314, 2315, 2383, 2386, 2387, 2388, and 2512 by striking “not more than $10,000” each place it appears and inserting “under this title”;Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994
Pub. L. 103–322 § 140007(a) · 108 Stat. 1796
Substituted · 18 U.S.C. § 1952(a)
Pub. L. 103–322, § 140007(a), substituted “and thereafter performs or attempts to perform—” and subpars. (A) and (B) for former concluding provisions which read as follows: “and thereafter performs or attempts to perform any of the acts specified in subparagraphs (1), (2), and (3), shall be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned for not more than five years, or both.”
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 103–322, § 140007(a), substituted “and thereafter performs or attempts to perform—” and subpars. (A) and (B) for former concluding provisions which read as follows: “and thereafter performs or attempts to perform any of the acts specified in subparagraphs (1), (2), and (3), shall be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned for not more than five years, or both.”Enacted provision · exact public law section
(a) Travel Act Penalties.— Section 1952(a) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by striking “and thereafter performs or attempts to perform any of the acts specified in subparagraphs (1), (2), and (3), shall be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned for not more than five years, or both.” and inserting “ and thereafter performs or attempts to perform— “(A) an act described in paragraph (1) or (3) shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both; or “(B) an act described in paragraph (2) shall be fined under this title, imprisoned for not more than 20 years, or both, and if death results shall be imprisoned for any term of years or for life.”.Homeland Security Act of 2002
Pub. L. 107–296 title XI § 1112(h) · 116 Stat. 2135
Substituted · 18 U.S.C. § 1952(c)
Pub. L. 107–296 substituted “Attorney General” for “Secretary of the Treasury”
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 107–296 substituted “Attorney General” for “Secretary of the Treasury”.Enacted provision · exact public law section
(h) Section 1952(c) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by striking “Secretary of the Treasury” and inserting “Attorney General”.Effective date note
Amendment by Pub. L. 107–296 effective 60 days after Nov. 25, 2002, see section 4 of Pub. L. 107–296, set out as an Effective Date note under section 101 of Title 6, Domestic Security.Strengthening and Focusing Enforcement to Deter Organized Stealing and Enhance Safety Act of 2012
Pub. L. 112–186 § 4(b)(1) · 126 Stat. 1427
Added · 18 U.S.C. § 1952(d)
Pub. L. 112–186 added subsec. (d)
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 112–186 added subsec. (d).Enacted provision · exact public law section
(1) Travel act violations.— Section 1952 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: “(d) If the offense under this section involves an act described in paragraph (1) or (3) of subsection (a) and also involves a pre-retail medical product (as defined in section 670), the punishment for the offense shall be the same as the punishment for an offense under section 670 unless the punishment under subsection (a) is greater.” .American Savings Promotion Act
Pub. L. 113–251 § 5(1) · 128 Stat. 2888
Added · 18 U.S.C. § 1952(e)
Pub. L. 113–251 added subsec. (e)
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 113–251 added subsec. (e).Enacted provision · exact public law section
(1) in section 1952, by adding at the end the following: “(e) (1) This section shall not apply to a savings promotion raffle conducted by an insured depository institution or an insured credit union. “(2) Definitions. In this subsection— “(A) the term ‘insured credit union’ shall have the meaning given the term in section 101 of the Federal Credit Union Act (12 U.S.C. 1752); “(B) the term ‘insured depository institution’ shall have the meaning given the term in section 3 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813); and “(C) the term ‘savings promotion raffle’ means a contest in which the sole consideration required for a chance of winning designated prizes is obtained by the deposit of a specified amount of money in a savings account or other savings program, where each ticket or entry has an equal chance of being drawn, such contest being subject to regulations that may from time to time be promulgated by the appropriate prudential regulator (as defined in section 1002 of the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010 (12 U.S.C. 5481)).” ;
12 of 14 references resolved to an enrolled provision · 2 partial
Editorial Notes
References in Text
Section 102(6) of the Controlled Substances Act, referred to in subsec. (b)(i)(1), is classified to section 802(6) of Title 21, Food and Drugs.
Amendments1965–2014 · 8 rounds
2014
Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 113–251 added subsec. (e).
2012
Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 112–186 added subsec. (d).
2002
Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 107–296 substituted “Attorney General” for “Secretary of the Treasury”.
1994
Pub. L. 103–322, § 330016(1)(L), which directed the amendment of this section by substituting “under this title” for “not more than $10,000”, could not be executed because the phrase “not more than $10,000” did not appear in text subsequent to amendment of subsec. (a) by Pub. L. 103–322, § 140007(a). See below.
Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 103–322, § 140007(a), substituted “and thereafter performs or attempts to perform—” and subpars. (A) and (B) for former concluding provisions which read as follows: “and thereafter performs or attempts to perform any of the acts specified in subparagraphs (1), (2), and (3), shall be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned for not more than five years, or both.”
1990
Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 101–647, § 1604, inserted “the mail or” after “uses” and struck out “including the mail,” before “with intent” in introductory provisions.
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 101–647, § 1205(i), inserted “(i)” after “As used in this section” and added cl. (ii).
1986
Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 99–570 added cl. (3).
1970
Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 91–513, § 701(i)(2)(A), inserted “or controlled substances (as defined in section 102(6) of the Controlled Substances Act)”.
Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 91–513, § 701(i)(2)(B), struck out reference to investigations involving narcotics.
1965
Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 89–68 made section applicable to travel in aid of arson.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 2002 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 107–296 effective 60 days after , see section 4 of Pub. L. 107–296, set out as an Effective Date note under section 101 of Title 6, Domestic Security.
Effective Date of 1970 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 91–513 effective on first day of seventh calendar month that begins after , see section 704 of Pub. L. 91–513, set out as an Effective Date note under section 801 of Title 21, Food and Drugs.
Short Title
This section is popularly known as the “Travel Act”.
Savings Provision
Amendment by Pub. L. 91–513 not to affect or abate any prosecutions for any violation of law or any civil seizures or forfeitures and injunctive proceedings commenced prior to the effective date of such amendment, and all administrative proceedings pending before the former Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs on , were to be continued and brought to final determination in accord with laws and regulations in effect prior to , see section 702 of Pub. L. 91–513, set out as a Savings Provision note under section 321 of Title 21, Food and Drugs.
Credits
1961–2014 · 9 acts
- 1961Added Pub. L. 87–228, § 1(a), , 75 Stat. 498
- 1965amended Pub. L. 89–68, , 79 Stat. 212
- 1970Pub. L. 91–513, title II, § 701(i)(2), , 84 Stat. 1282
- 1986Pub. L. 99–570, title I, § 1365(a), , 100 Stat. 3207–35
- 1990Pub. L. 101–647, title XII, § 1205(i), title XVI, § 1604, , 104 Stat. 4831, 4843
- 1994Pub. L. 103–322, title XIV, § 140007(a), title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(L), , 108 Stat. 2033, 2147
- 2002Pub. L. 107–296, title XI, § 1112(h), , 116 Stat. 2277
- 2012Pub. L. 112–186, § 4(b)(1), , 126 Stat. 1429
- 2014Pub. L. 113–251, § 5(1), , 128 Stat. 2890.
Show as published
(Added Pub. L. 87–228, § 1(a), , 75 Stat. 498; amended Pub. L. 89–68, , 79 Stat. 212; Pub. L. 91–513, title II, § 701(i)(2), , 84 Stat. 1282; Pub. L. 99–570, title I, § 1365(a), , 100 Stat. 3207–35; Pub. L. 101–647, title XII, § 1205(i), title XVI, § 1604, , 104 Stat. 4831, 4843; Pub. L. 103–322, title XIV, § 140007(a), title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(L), , 108 Stat. 2033, 2147; Pub. L. 107–296, title XI, § 1112(h), , 116 Stat. 2277; Pub. L. 112–186, § 4(b)(1), , 126 Stat. 1429; Pub. L. 113–251, § 5(1), , 128 Stat. 2890.)