18 U.S.C. § 1652
Citizens as pirates
Whoever, being a citizen of the United States, commits any murder or robbery, or any act of hostility against the United States, or against any citizen thereof, on the high seas, under color of any commission from any foreign prince, or state, or on pretense of authority from any person, is a pirate, and shall be imprisoned for life.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 9
cases (2 in the last 5 years), 1979–2025 · leading case: United States v. Rivera-Ruperto, 852 F.3d 1 (1st Cir. 2017).
United States v. Rivera-Ruperto, 852 F.3d 1 (1st Cir. 2017). “§ 1651 Piracy under the laws of the 1790 Life nation 23 18 U.S.C. § 1652 Piracy by U.S. citizen 1790 Life 24 18 U.”
United States v. Hasan, 747 F. Supp. 2d 599 (E.D. Va. 2010). “For example, 18 U.S.C. § 1652 criminalizes certain conduct as municipal piracy when committed by citizens of the United States, including acts of hostility on the high seas.”
People v. Gladney, 250 P.3d 762 (Colo. Ct. App. 2010). “§ 1153 (a) (murder on a Federal reservation); 18 U.S.C. § 1652 (murder on the high seas); see also Hackathorn v.”
United States v. Polizzi, 549 F. Supp. 2d 308 (E.D.N.Y 2008). “§ 1651 Piracy under the laws of nations Life 18 U.S.C. § 1652 Piracy by a citizen of the United States Life 18 U.”
United States v. Terry Wayne Denson, Stephen Orlando & Joseph James Janish, Defendants- in Re United States of Am., 588 F.2d 1112 (5th Cir. 1979). “§ 1651 (piracy under law of nations); 18 U.S. C.A. § 1652 (citizens as pirates); 18 U.”
United States v. Shulman, 466 F. Supp. 293 (S.D.N.Y. 1979). “There are a vast number of federal felonies, ranging in significance from murder on the high seas ( 18 U.S.C. § 1652 ) to the improper sale of white phosphorus matches ( 26 U.”
United States v. Said, 3 F. Supp. 3d 515 (E.D. Va. 2014). “For example, kidnapping the President (as long as no death results) or second degree murder of the President does not require the imposition of a life sentence, but is punishable by imprisonment for any term of years or life.”
(PC) Caetano v. Bd. of State & Cmty. Corr. (E.D. Cal. 2023). “) As to 17 this second claim, Plaintiff seeks relief in the form of (1) “The ‘Robbery Ashore’ 18 USC § 1661 18 and Citizens as Pirates 18 USC § 1652 of My Access Package,” a jury trial, “$13,511 USD, court 19 costs and Attorney Fees;” (2) reversal and judgment in his favor in…”
Strickland v. Sharp Grossmont Hosp. (D.N.J. 2025). “§ 1153 (a) (murder on a federal reservation); 18 U.S.C. § 1652 (murder on the high seas).”
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