(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.


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Terms Used In 18 USC 668

  • foreign commerce: as used in this title , includes commerce with a foreign country. See 18 USC 10
  • Fraud: Intentional deception resulting in injury to another.
  • United States: as used in this title in a territorial sense, includes all places and waters, continental or insular, subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, except the Canal Zone. See 18 USC 5

(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.