U.S. Code » Title 18 » Part PART I— CRIMES › Chapter CHAPTER 7— ASSAULT

18 U.S.C. § 111

Assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers or employees

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(a)In General.—Whoever—(1) forcibly assaults, resists, opposes, impedes, intimidates, or interferes with any person designated in section 1114 of this title while engaged in or on account of the performance of official duties; or(2) forcibly assaults or intimidates any person who formerly served as a person designated in section 1114 on account of the performance of official duties during such person’s term of service,shall, where the acts in violation of this section constitute only simple assault, be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both, and where such acts involve physical contact with the victim of that assault or the intent to commit another felony, be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 8 years, or both.(b)Enhanced Penalty.—Whoever, in the commission of any acts described in subsection (a), uses a deadly or dangerous weapon (including a weapon intended to cause death or danger but that fails to do so by reason of a defective component) or inflicts bodily injury, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both.(c)Extraterritorial Jurisdiction.—There is extraterritorial jurisdiction over the conduct prohibited by this section.(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 688; Pub. L. 100–690, title VI, § 6487(a), Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4386; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXII, § 320101(a), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2108; Pub. L. 104–132, title VII, § 727(c), Apr. 24, 1996, 110 Stat. 1302; Pub. L. 107–273, div. C, title I, § 11008(b), Nov. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 1818; Pub. L. 110–177, title II, § 208(b), Jan. 7, 2008, 121 Stat. 2538; Pub. L. 117–59, § 3(1), Nov. 18, 2021, 135 Stat. 1469.)Historical and Revision Notes

Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., §§ 118, 254 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, § 62, 35 Stat. 1100; May 18, 1934, ch. 299, § 2, 48 Stat. 781).

This section consolidates sections 118 and 254 with changes in phraseology and substance necessary to effect the consolidation.

Also the words “Bureau of Animal Industry of the Department of Agriculture” appearing in section 118 of title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., were inserted in enumeration of Federal officers and employees in section 1114 of this title.

The punishment provision of section 254 of title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., was adopted as the latest expression of Congressional intent. This consolidation eliminates a serious incongruity in punishment and application.

Editorial NotesAmendments

2021—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 117–59 added subsec. (c).

2008—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 110–177 substituted “where such acts involve physical contact with the victim of that assault or the intent to commit another felony” for “in all other cases” in concluding provisions.

2002—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 107–273, § 11008(b)(1), substituted “8” for “three” in concluding provisions.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 107–273, § 11008(b)(2), substituted “20” for “ten”.

1996—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 104–132 inserted “(including a weapon intended to cause death or danger but that fails to do so by reason of a defective component)” after “deadly or dangerous weapon”.

1994—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 103–322, § 320101(a)(1), inserted “, where the acts in violation of this section constitute only simple assault, be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both, and in all other cases,” after “shall” in concluding provisions.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 103–322, § 320101(a)(2), inserted “or inflicts bodily injury” after “weapon”.

1988—Pub. L. 100–690 amended text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows:

“Whoever forcibly assaults, resists, opposes, impedes, intimidates, or interferes with any person designated in section 1114 of this title while engaged in or on account of the performance of his official duties, shall be fined not more than $5,000 or imprisoned not more than three years, or both.

“Whoever, in the commission of any such acts uses a deadly or dangerous weapon, shall be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both.”

Statutory Notes and Related SubsidiariesShort Title of 2002 Amendment

Pub. L. 107–273, div. C, title I, § 11008(a), Nov. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 1818, provided that: “This section [amending this section, sections 115 and 876 of this title, and provisions set out as a note under section 994 of Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure] may be cited as the ‘Federal Judiciary Protection Act of 2002’.”

Sense of Congress Regarding Amendment by Pub. L. 117–59

For sense of Congress regarding amendment to this section by Pub. L. 117–59, see section 2(6) of Pub. L. 117–59, set out as a note under section 1114 of this title.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 2,056 cases (327 in the last 5 years), 1952–2026 · leading case: United States v. Jereb, 882 F.3d 1325 (10th Cir. 2018).
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United States v. Jereb, 882 F.3d 1325 (10th Cir. 2018). · cites it 33× “_________________________________ Following a jury trial, Aaron Bradley Jereb was convicted of forcibly opposing a federal officer, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 111 (b), along with three lesser crimes.”
United States v. George Rafidi, 829 F.3d 437 (6th Cir. 2016). · cites it 12× “A jury convicted Defendant-Appellant George Rafidi of forcibly assaulting a federal law-enforcement officer, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 111 (a)(1) and (b), and using a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, in violation of 18 U.”
United States v. ETTINGER, 344 F.3d 1149 (11th Cir. 2003). · cites it 18× “BRUNETTI, Circuit Judge: Jason Ettinger appeals his conviction for assaulting, resisting, or impeding a federal officer and inflicting bodily injury, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 111 (a) and (b). Ettinger argues that the district court erred in (1) ruling that § 111 is a general…”
Busic v. United States, 446 U.S. 398 (1980). · cites it 12× “[1] A jury in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania convicted petitioners of narcotics and possession-of-firearms counts, [2] and of two counts of armed assault on federal officers in violation of 18 U. S. C. § 111— LaRocca as the actual…”
United States v. Kendall, 876 F.3d 1264 (10th Cir. 2017). · cites it 10× “Anthony Kendall pleaded guilty to forcibly assaulting a federal officer and inflicting a bodily injury in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 111 (b). Kendall had two prior felony convictions: a federal conviction for aggravated assault while carrying a firearm and a conviction for assault…”
United States v. David J. Farrow, 198 F.3d 179 (6th Cir. 2000). · cites it 15× “Farrow appeals from his conviction and thirty-six (36) month sentence for assault on a federal officer in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 111 (a)(1). Farrow raises four arguments on appeal: (1) that the evidence at trial was insufficient to sustain a conviction; (2) that the trial…”
United States v. Augustin Alvarez, Oscar Hernandez, Mario C. Simon, Rolando Rios, Ramon Raymond, Eduardo Portal, Victoriano Concepcion, A/K/A \Macho\"", 755 F.2d 830 (11th Cir. 1985). · cites it 12× “In addition, Alvarez and Simon were convicted of first degree murder of a federal agent, 18 U.S.C. §§ 1111 (a) and 1114, assault on a federal agent by means of a deadly and dangerous weapon, 18 U.”
United States v. Rafael Diddier Gutierrez, 745 F.3d 463 (11th Cir. 2014). · cites it 16× “Introduction This is an appeal of a conviction for violating 18 U.S.C. § 111 (a)(1) and (b), assault of a federal officer that resulted in bodily injury.”
United States v. Feola, 420 U.S. 671 (1975). · cites it 14× “§ 371 , to commit *673 an offense violative of 18 U. S. C. § 111 , [1] that is, an assault upon a federal officer while engaged in the performance of his official duties.”
United States v. Taylor, 848 F.3d 476 (1st Cir. 2017). · cites it 6× “§ 371 , (2) assault on a federal employee under 18 U.S.C. §§ 111 (a)(1) and (b), (3) robbery and attempted robbery under 18 U.”
Rehaif v. United States, 139 S. Ct. 2191 (2019). · cites it 2× “We have never provided a comprehensive explanation of the basis for this presumption, but our decision in Feola , which concerned the offense of assaulting a federal officer in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 111 , is instructive. Agreeing with the interpretation that had been adopted…”
United States v. Ramirez, 233 F.3d 318 (5th Cir. 2000). · cites it 19× “JONES, Circuit Judge: Moses Ramirez appeals his conviction for forcibly assaulting a federal officer in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 111 . Ramirez was convicted after a jury trial and was sentenced to thirty-six months of imprisonment, to be followed by one year of supervised…”
Show all 2,056 citing cases →
— 18 U.S.C. § 111(a) — 3 cases
United States v. Julious Bullock, 970 F.3d 210 (3rd Cir. 2020).
United States v. Rendsland, 648 F. App'x 104 (2d Cir. 2016).
United States v. Barry Ramey (D.C. Cir. 2024).
— 18 U.S.C. § 111(a)(1) — 5 cases
Anthony Farmer v. P United States of Am., 2023 DNH 104 (D.N.H. 2023).
United States v. Warnagiris (D.D.C. 2025).
United States v. Saleh (2d Cir. 2023).
United States v. Rene Ruiz (9th Cir. 2023).
Farmer v. United States (D.N.H. 2023).
— 18 U.S.C. § 111(b) — 3 cases
United States v. Chatwin, 60 F.4th 604 (10th Cir. 2023).
United States v. Warnagiris (D.D.C. 2025).
United States v. Braun (D.D.C. 2024).
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