18 U.S.C. § 956 – Conspiracy to kill, kidnap, maim, or injure persons or damage property in a foreign country
This statute makes it a federal crime to plan or agree to commit certain violent acts or property damage in another country.
Section 956 applies to conspiracies involving serious violent acts outside the United States. A person can be charged if they join an agreement to kill, kidnap, maim, injure people, or damage property in a foreign country. The offense does not need to be completed for the government to bring charges.
(a) Conspiracy to commit violent acts abroad.
A person violates this law if they:
- agree with one or more people to kill, kidnap, maim, or injure someone in a foreign country, or
- agree to destroy or damage property belonging to another person or government outside the United States,
and at least one member of the conspiracy commits an act within the United States to help move the plan forward.
Penalties.
A person convicted under this statute may face:
- up to life in federal prison,
- fines, and
- other penalties depending on the nature of the planned offense.
(b) Conspiracy involving military equipment.
It is also illegal to conspire to provide, ship, or transport armed vessels, aircraft, weapons, or explosives from the United States with the intent to use them in violent acts abroad. Conspirators face the same penalties as those who violate subsection (a).
(c) Additional rules.
The law allows the United States to prosecute these offenses even if the planned acts would occur entirely outside the country, as long as part of the conspiracy took place within U.S. territory.
Federal conspiracy charges can carry extremely serious consequences, especially when international conduct is involved. Contact our firm or call (314) 900-HELP to discuss your case with a federal criminal defense attorney.
