18 U.S.C. § 2422 - Coercion and enticement

• Cite as: 18 U.S.C. § 2422

(a) Whoever knowingly persuades, induces, entices, or coerces any individual to travel in interstate or foreign commerce, or in any Territory or Possession of the United States, to engage in prostitution, or in any sexual activity for which any person can be charged with a criminal offense, or attempts to do so, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both.

(b) Whoever, using the mail or any facility or means of interstate or foreign commerce, or within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States knowingly persuades, induces, entices, or coerces any individual who has not attained the age of 18 years, to engage in prostitution or any sexual activity for which any person can be charged with a criminal offense, or attempts to do so, shall be fined under this title and imprisoned not less than 10 years or for life.

Cite as 18 U.S.C. § 2422

Source: June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 812; Pub. L. 99-628, §5(b)(1), Nov. 7, 1986, 100 Stat. 3511; Pub. L. 100-690, title VII, §7070, Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4405; Pub. L. 104-104, title V, §508, Feb. 8, 1996, 110 Stat. 137; Pub. L. 105-314, title I, §102, Oct. 30, 1998, 112 Stat. 2975; Pub. L. 108-21, title I, §103(a)(2)(A), (B), (b) (2)(A), Apr. 30, 2003, 117 Stat. 652, 653; Pub. L. 109-248, title II, §203, July 27, 2006, 120 Stat. 613.

Notes from the Office of Law Revision Counsel

current through 12/7/2021

HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES

Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., §399 (June 25, 1910, ch. 395, §3, 36 Stat. 825).

Words "deemed guilty of a felony" were deleted as unnecessary in view of definition of felony in section 1 of this title. (See reviser's note under section 550 of this title.)

Words "and on conviction thereof shall be" were deleted as surplusage since punishment cannot be imposed until a conviction is secured.

The references to persons causing, procuring, aiding or assisting were omitted as unnecessary as such persons are made principals by section 2 of this title.

Words "Possession of the United States" were inserted twice. (See reviser's note under section 2421 of this title.)

Minor changes were made in phraseology.

EDITORIAL NOTES

AMENDMENTS

2006-Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 109-248 substituted "not less than 10 years or for life" for "not less than 5 years and not more than 30 years".