U.S. Code » Title 18 » Part PART I— CRIMES › Chapter CHAPTER 45— FOREIGN RELATIONS

18 U.S.C. § 956

Conspiracy to kill, kidnap, maim, or injure persons or damage property in a foreign country

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(a)(1) Whoever, within the jurisdiction of the United States, conspires with one or more other persons, regardless of where such other person or persons are located, to commit at any place outside the United States an act that would constitute the offense of murder, kidnapping, or maiming if committed in the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States shall, if any of the conspirators commits an act within the jurisdiction of the United States to effect any object of the conspiracy, be punished as provided in subsection (a)(2).(2) The punishment for an offense under subsection (a)(1) of this section is—(A) imprisonment for any term of years or for life if the offense is conspiracy to murder or kidnap; and(B) imprisonment for not more than 35 years if the offense is conspiracy to maim.(b) Whoever, within the jurisdiction of the United States, conspires with one or more persons, regardless of where such other person or persons are located, to damage or destroy specific property situated within a foreign country and belonging to a foreign government or to any political subdivision thereof with which the United States is at peace, or any railroad, canal, bridge, airport, airfield, or other public utility, public conveyance, or public structure, or any religious, educational, or cultural property so situated, shall, if any of the conspirators commits an act within the jurisdiction of the United States to effect any object of the conspiracy, be imprisoned not more than 25 years.(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 744; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(K), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147; Pub. L. 104–132, title VII, § 704(a), Apr. 24, 1996, 110 Stat. 1294.)Historical and Revision Notes

Based on section 234 of title 22, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Foreign Relations and Intercourse (June 15, 1917, ch. 30, title VIII, § 5, 40 Stat. 226).

Editorial NotesAmendments

1996—Pub. L. 104–132 substituted “Conspiracy to kill, kidnap, maim, or injure persons or damage property in a foreign country” for “Conspiracy to injure property of foreign government” as section catchline and amended text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows:

“(a) If two or more persons within the jurisdiction of the United States conspire to injure or destroy specific property situated within a foreign country and belonging to a foreign government or to any political subdivision thereof with which the United States is at peace, or any railroad, canal, bridge, or other public utility so situated, and if one or more such persons commits an act within the jurisdiction of the United States to effect the object of the conspiracy, each of the parties to the conspiracy shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both.

“(b) Any indictment or information under this section shall describe the specific property which it was the object of the conspiracy to injure or destroy.”

1994—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $5,000”.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 120 cases (22 in the last 5 years), 1951–2025 · leading case: United States v. Stewart, 590 F.3d 93 (2d Cir. 2009).
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United States v. Stewart, 590 F.3d 93 (2d Cir. 2009). · cites it 14× “We affirm as to Sattar's conviction of conspiring to murder persons in a foreign country in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 956 , and his conviction of soliciting persons to commit crimes of violence — viz.”
United States v. Mohammad Hassan, 742 F.3d 104 (4th Cir. 2014). · cites it 9× “§ 2339A, that is, to provide material support and resources for violations of 18 U.S.C. § 956 (the “Count One conspiracy”); *111 • Count Two charged the eight defendants with the conspiracy offense of violating 18 U.”
United States v. Wassim Mazloum, 695 F.3d 457 (6th Cir. 2012). · cites it 10× “This appeal arises from a jury trial in which the three defendants were convicted of conspiracy to kill and maim persons outside the United States, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 956 (a)(1), and of conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists in furtherance of the killing…”
United States v. Sattar, 314 F. Supp. 2d 279 (S.D.N.Y. 2004). · cites it 11× “Count Two charges Sattar with conspiring to murder and kidnap persons in a foreign country in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 956 (a)(1) and (a)(2)(A). Count Three charges Sattar with soliciting persons to engage in crimes of violence in violation of 18 U.”
United States v. Yasith Chhun, 744 F.3d 1110 (9th Cir. 2014). · cites it 14× “*1114 OPINION BEA, Circuit Judge: Yasith Chhun appeals his convictions for violations of 18 U.S.C. §§ 956 (a), 956(b), and 960, and appeals his life sentence.”
United States v. Mehanna, 735 F.3d 32 (1st Cir. 2013). · cites it 6× “The terrorism-related counts included one count of conspiracy to provide material support to al-Qa’ida (count 1); one count of conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists knowing or intending its use to be in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 956 and 2332 (count 2); one count…”
United States v. Jayyousi, 657 F.3d 1085 (11th Cir. 2011). · cites it 3× “18 U.S.C. § 956 (a)(1). [2] Count 2 charged defendants with conspiring, in violation of 18 U.”
New York Times Co. v. United States Deparment of Just., 756 F.3d 100 (2d Cir. 2014). · cites it 4× “Part IV explains why the contemplated killing would not violate 18 U.S.C. § 956 (a) (2013), entitled “Conspiracy to kill, maim, or injure *116 persons or damage property in a foreign country.”
United States v. Awan, 607 F.3d 306 (2d Cir. 2010). · cites it 4× “BACKGROUND At the conclusion of a three-week jury trial in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, the Cross-Appellee Khalid Awan (“Awan”) was convicted of (1) conspiring to provide material support and resources to be used in a conspiracy…”
United States v. Hunter, 32 F.4th 22 (2d Cir. 2022). · cites it 4× “§ 1958 (a); (3) conspiracy to murder and kidnap in a foreign country, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 956 (a); 6 (4) causing death with a firearm during and in relation to a 4 Rule 33 Order, No.”
United States v. Mostafa, 965 F. Supp. 2d 451 (S.D.N.Y. 2013). · cites it 9× “§§ 2 2 ,1203; Count Three: Conspiracy to Provide and Conceal Material Support and Resources to Terrorists (The Bly, Oregon Jihad Training Camp), in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 956 3 and 2339A 4 ; Count Four: Providing and Concealing Material Support and Resources to Terrorists…”
United States v. Wharton, 320 F.3d 526 (5th Cir. 2003). · cites it 3× “§ 1119 ; (2) conspiracy to kill in a foreign country in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 956 ; (3) fraud via interstate carrier in violation of 18 U.”
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— 18 U.S.C. § 956(b) — 1 case
United States v. Yasith Chhun, 744 F.3d 1110 (9th Cir. 2014). “*1114 OPINION BEA, Circuit Judge: Yasith Chhun appeals his convictions for violations of 18 U.S.C. §§ 956 (a), 956(b), and 960, and appeals his life sentence.”
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