2022 US Code
Title 18 - Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Part I - Crimes
Chapter 95 - Racketeering
Sec. 1959 - Violent crimes in aid of racketeering activity

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Citation 18 U.S.C. § 1959 (2022)
Section Name §1959. Violent crimes in aid of racketeering activity
Section Text

(a) Whoever, as consideration for the receipt of, or as consideration for a promise or agreement to pay, anything of pecuniary value from an enterprise engaged in racketeering activity, or for the purpose of gaining entrance to or maintaining or increasing position in an enterprise engaged in racketeering activity, murders, kidnaps, maims, assaults with a dangerous weapon, commits assault resulting in serious bodily injury upon, or threatens to commit a crime of violence against any individual in violation of the laws of any State or the United States, or attempts or conspires so to do, shall be punished—

(1) for murder, by death or life imprisonment, or a fine under this title, or both; and for kidnapping, by imprisonment for any term of years or for life, or a fine under this title, or both;

(2) for maiming, by imprisonment for not more than thirty years or a fine under this title, or both;

(3) for assault with a dangerous weapon or assault resulting in serious bodily injury, by imprisonment for not more than twenty years or a fine under this title, or both;

(4) for threatening to commit a crime of violence, by imprisonment for not more than five years or a fine under this title, or both;

(5) for attempting or conspiring to commit murder or kidnapping, by imprisonment for not more than ten years or a fine under this title, or both; and

(6) for attempting or conspiring to commit a crime involving maiming, assault with a dangerous weapon, or assault resulting in serious bodily injury, by imprisonment for not more than three years or a fine of 1 under this title, or both.


(b) As used in this section—

(1) "racketeering activity" has the meaning set forth in section 1961 of this title; and

(2) "enterprise" includes any partnership, corporation, association, or other legal entity, and any union or group of individuals associated in fact although not a legal entity, which is engaged in, or the activities of which affect, interstate or foreign commerce.

Source Credit

(Added Pub. L. 98–473, title II, §1002(a), Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 2137, §1952B; renumbered §1959, Pub. L. 100–690, title VII, §7053(b), Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4402; Pub. L. 103–322, title VI, §60003(a)(12), title XXXIII, §§330016(1)(J), (2)(C), 330021(1), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 1969, 2147, 2148, 2150.)


Editorial Notes EDITORIAL NOTES AMENDMENTS

1994—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 103–322, §330016(2)(C), substituted "fine under this title" for "fine of not more than $250,000" in two places.

Pub. L. 103–322, §60003(a)(12), amended par. (1) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (1) read as follows:

"(1) for murder or kidnaping, by imprisonment for any term of years or for life or a fine of not more than $50,000, or both;".

Subsec. (a)(2) to (4). Pub. L. 103–322, §330016(2)(C), substituted "fine under this title" for "fine of not more than $30,000" in par. (2), "fine of not more than $20,000" in par. (3), and "fine of not more than $5,000" in par. (4).

Subsec. (a)(5). Pub. L. 103–322, §330021(1), substituted "kidnapping" for "kidnaping".

Pub. L. 103–322, §330016(2)(C), substituted "fine under this title" for "fine of not more than $10,000".

Subsec. (a)(6). Pub. L. 103–322, §330016(1)(J), substituted "under this title" for "not more than $3,000" after "fine of".

1988—Pub. L. 100–690 renumbered section 1952B of this title as this section.

Footnotes

1 So in original. The word "of" probably should not appear.

Publication Title United States Code, 2018 Edition, Supplement 4, Title 18 - CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
Category Bills and Statutes
Collection United States Code
SuDoc Class Number Y 1.2/5:
Contained Within Title 18 - CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
PART I - CRIMES
CHAPTER 95 - RACKETEERING
Sec. 1959 - Violent crimes in aid of racketeering activity
Contains section 1959
Date 2022
Laws In Effect As Of Date January 5, 2023
Positive Law Yes
Disposition standard
Statutes at Large References 98 Stat. 2137
102 Stat. 4402
108 Stat. 1969
Public Law References Public Law 98-473, Public Law 100-690, Public Law 103-322
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