18 U.S.C. § 668 - Theft of major artwork

• Cite as: 18 U.S.C. § 668

(a) DEFINITIONS.-In this section-

(1) "museum" means an organized and permanent institution, the activities of which affect interstate or foreign commerce, that-

(A) is situated in the United States;

(B) is established for an essentially educational or aesthetic purpose;

(C) has a professional staff; and

(D) owns, utilizes, and cares for tangible objects that are exhibited to the public on a regular schedule.

(2) "object of cultural heritage" means an object that is-

(A) over 100 years old and worth in excess of $5,000; or

(B) worth at least $100,000.

(b) OFFENSES.-A person who-

(1) steals or obtains by fraud from the care, custody, or control of a museum any object of cultural heritage; or

(2) knowing that an object of cultural heritage has been stolen or obtained by fraud, if in fact the object was stolen or obtained from the care, custody, or control of a museum (whether or not that fact is known to the person), receives, conceals, exhibits, or disposes of the object,