§ 1651
Piracy under law of nations
Official text prohibited actmental stateif conditionpenaltylegal term
Whoever, on the high seas, commits the crime of piracy as defined by the law of nations, and is afterwards brought into or found in the United States, shall be imprisoned for life.
History: (June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 774 (PDF, 39 MB).)
Simplified explanation
It is a federal crime to commit piracy on the high seas, as defined by international law, if the person is later brought into or found in the United States.