§2423. Transportation of minors
(a) Transportation With Intent To Engage in Criminal Sexual Activity.-A person who knowingly transports any individual under the age of 18 years in interstate or foreign commerce, or in any Territory or Possession of the United States, with intent that such individual engage in prostitution, or in any sexual activity for which any person can be charged with a criminal offense, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both.
(b) Travel With Intent To Engage in Sexual Act With a Juvenile.-A person who travels in interstate commerce, or conspires to do so, or a United States citizen or an alien admitted for permanent residence in the United States who travels in foreign commerce, or conspires to do so, for the purpose of engaging in any sexual act (as defined in section 2245) 1 with a person under 18 years of age that would be in violation of chapter 109A if the sexual act occurred in the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both.
(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 812
; Feb. 6, 1978,
Pub. L. 95–225, §3(a), 92 Stat. 8
; Nov. 7, 1986,
Pub. L. 99–628, §5(b)(1), 100 Stat. 3511
; Sept. 13, 1994,
Pub. L. 103–322, title XVI, §160001(g), 108 Stat. 2037
.)
Historical and Revision Notes
Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., §400 (June 25, 1910, ch. 395, §4, 36 Stat. 826
).
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.
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.
References in Text
Section 2245, referred to in subsec. (b), was renumbered section 2246 of this title by
Pub. L. 103–322, title VI, §60010(a)(1), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 1972
.
Amendments
1994-Pub. L. 103–322 added subsec. (b) and directed the amendment of this section by substituting "(a) Transportation With Intent To Engage in Criminal Sexual Activity.-A person who" for "(a) Whoever", which was executed by making the substitution for "Whoever" to reflect the probable intent of Congress.
1986-Pub. L. 99–628 amended section generally, revising and restating as one paragraph provisions formerly contained in subsec. (a) and striking out subsec. (b) which provided definitions.
1978-Pub. L. 95–225 substituted "Transportation of minors" for "Coercion or enticement of minor female" in section catchline, designated existing provision as subsec. (a), substituted provisions relating to conduct prohibiting the transportation of minors for provisions relating to conduct prohibiting the coercion or enticement of a minor female, and added subsec. (b).
Canal Zone
Applicability of section to Canal Zone, see section 14 of this title.
Section Referred to in Other Sections
This section is referred to in sections 14, 1961 of this title.