18 U.S.C. § 1584 – Sale Into Involuntary Servitude
This law makes it a federal crime to knowingly hold a person in involuntary servitude, sell a person into involuntary servitude, or interfere with enforcement of the prohibition on involuntary servitude.
This statute targets conduct that forces a person into involuntary servitude or transfers a person into such a condition.
It applies to individuals who knowingly and willfully hold another person in involuntary servitude, sell a person into such a condition, bring a person into the United States while so held, or obstruct enforcement of this law.
What the law prohibits.
A person violates this statute if they:
- Knowingly and willfully hold another person in involuntary servitude for any term
- Knowingly and willfully sell another person into any condition of involuntary servitude
- Bring into the United States any person who is held in involuntary servitude
- Obstruct, attempt to obstruct, interfere with, or prevent the enforcement of this section
Penalties.
A person convicted under this statute shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both.
If death results from the violation, or if the violation includes kidnapping or an attempt to kidnap, aggravated sexual abuse or an attempt to commit aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to kill, the penalty shall be a fine under this title or imprisonment for any term of years or for life, or both.
If you’re being investigated or charged under a federal involuntary servitude statute, call (314) 900-HELP or contact our criminal defense attorneys to discuss your situation.
