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

(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,

shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both.

Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXII, § 320902(a)Sept. 13, 1994108 Stat. 2123 Pub. L. 104–294, title VI, § 604(b)(18)Oct. 11, 1996110 Stat. 3507(Added , , ; amended , , .)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Pub. L. 104–2941996—Subsec. (a). designated first and second pars. beginning with quotation mark as pars. (1) and (2), respectively, and made technical amendment to provisions appearing in original.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1996 Amendment

Pub. L. 104–294Sept. 13, 1994section 604(d) of Pub. L. 104–294 section 13 of this titleAmendment by effective , see , set out as a note under .