                 TITLE 18--CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
 
                             PART I--CRIMES
 
                   CHAPTER 81--PIRACY AND PRIVATEERING
 
Sec. 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.

(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 774.)


                      Historical and Revision Notes

    Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Sec. 495 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 
321, Sec. 304, 35 Stat. 1147).
    Words ``Notwithstanding the pretense of such authority,'' were 
omitted as surplusage.
