18 U.S.C. § 1590 – Trafficking With Respect to Peonage, Slavery, Involuntary Servitude, or Forced Labor
This law makes it a federal crime to traffic a person for labor or services in violation of federal peonage, slavery, involuntary servitude, or forced labor laws.
This statute targets human trafficking conduct connected to labor or services obtained in violation of federal involuntary servitude and forced labor provisions.
It applies to individuals who recruit, harbor, transport, provide, or obtain a person for unlawful labor or services, as well as those who interfere with enforcement of this statute.
What the law prohibits.
A person violates this statute if they knowingly:
- Recruit, harbor, transport, provide, or obtain any person for labor or services in violation of this chapter
- 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 human trafficking statute, call (314) 900-HELP or contact our criminal defense lawyers to discuss next steps.
