Peonage; obstructing enforcement
Official text prohibited actmental stateif conditionpenaltylegal term
(a) Whoever holds or returns any person to a condition of peonage, or arrests any person with the intent of placing him in or returning him to a condition of peonage, shall be or imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both. If death results from the violation of this section, or if the violation includes kidnapping or an attempt to kidnap, aggravated sexual abuse or the attempt to commit aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to kill, the defendant shall be or imprisoned for any term of years or life, or both.
(b) Whoever obstructs, or to obstruct, or in any way interferes with or prevents the enforcement of this section, shall be liable to the penalties prescribed in subsection (a).
History: (June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 772 (PDF, 39 MB); Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, §330016(1)(K), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147 (PDF, 52 MB); Pub. L. 104–208, div. C, title II, §218(a), Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 3009–573; Pub. L. 106–386, div. A, §112(a)(1), Oct. 28, 2000, 114 Stat. 1486.)
Simplified explanation
It is a federal crime to hold or return someone to peonage (forced work to pay off a debt), or to arrest someone in order to do so. It is also a crime to block or interfere with enforcement of this law.