Use of interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire
Official text prohibited actmental stateif conditionpenaltylegal term
(a) Whoever travels in or causes another (including the intended victim) to travel in , or uses or causes another (including the intended victim) to use the mail or any facility of , with intent that a murder be committed in violation of the laws of any State or the United States as consideration for the receipt of, or as consideration for a promise or agreement to pay, anything of pecuniary value, or who to do so, shall be or imprisoned for not more than ten years, or both; and if personal injury results, shall be or imprisoned for not more than twenty years, or both; and if death results, shall be punished by death or life imprisonment, or shall be fined not more than $250,000, or both.
(b)
As used in this section and section 1959—
(1) "anything of pecuniary value" means anything of value in the form of money, a negotiable instrument, a commercial interest, or anything else the primary significance of which is economic advantage;
(2) "facility of " includes means of transportation and communication; and
(3) "State" includes a State of the United States, the District of Columbia, and any commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States.
History: (Added Pub. L. 98–473, title II, §1002(a), Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 2136 (PDF, 62 MB), §1952A; renumbered §1958 and amended Pub. L. 100–690, title VII, §§7053(a), 7058(b), Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4402 (PDF, 56 MB), 4403; Pub. L. 101–647, title XII, §1205(k), title XXXV, §3558, Nov. 29, 1990, 104 Stat. 4831 (PDF, 27 MB), 4927; Pub. L. 103–322, title VI, §60003(a)(11), title XIV, §140007(b), title XXXII, §320105, title XXXIII, §330016(1)(L), (N), (Q), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 1969 (PDF, 52 MB), 2033, 2111, 2147, 2148; Pub. L. 104–294, title VI, §§601(g)(3), 605(a), Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3500, 3509; Pub. L. 108–458, title VI, §6704, Dec. 17, 2004, 118 Stat. 3766.)
Simplified explanation
It is a federal crime to travel between states or countries, or use the mail, phones, or other interstate services (or make someone else do so), intending that a murder be committed for pay. It covers both the person paying and the person being paid, and also anyone who conspires to do so.