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18 U.S.C. § 542 — Entry of goods by means of false statements
Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
Whoever enters or introduces, or attempts to enter or introduce, into the commerce of the United States any imported merchandise by means of any fraudulent or false invoice, declaration, affidavit, letter, paper, or by means of any false statement, written or verbal, or by means of any false or fraudulent practice or appliance, or makes any false statement in any declaration without reasonable cause to believe the truth of such statement, or procures the making of any such false statement as to any matter material thereto without reasonable cause to believe the truth of such statement, whether or not the United States shall or may be deprived of any lawful duties; or
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Source file: Laws/federal/codes/united-states-code/title-18/section-542-entry-of-goods-by-means-of-false-statements--101aceabc2.md
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Source location: Title 18, Chapter 27, § 542; chapter-027-customs.md
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Whoever enters or introduces, or attempts to enter or introduce, into the commerce of the United States any imported merchandise by means of any fraudulent or false invoice, declaration, affidavit, letter, paper, or by means of any false statement, written or verbal, or by means of any false or fraudulent practice or appliance, or makes any false statement in any declaration without reasonable cause to believe the truth of such statement, or procures the making of any such false statement as to any matter material thereto without reasonable cause to believe the truth of such statement, whether or not the United States shall or may be deprived of any lawful duties; or
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a)** Whoever commits an offense against the United States or aids, abets, counsels, commands, induces or procures its commission, is punishable as a principal.
**(b)** Whoever willfully causes an act to be done which if directly performed by him or another would be an offense against the United States, is punishable as a principal.
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
### Statutory Notes
Section, acts June 17, 1930, ch. 497, title IV, § 591, 46 Stat. 750; Aug. 5, 1935, ch. 438, title III, § 304(a), 49 Stat. 527, related to fraud and personal penalties. See [section 542 of Title 18](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title18-section542&num=0&edition=prelim), Crimes and Criminal Procedure.
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
When used in this subtitle or in part I of subtitle II—
**(a) Vessel** The word “vessel” includes every description of water craft or other contrivance used, or capable of being used, as a means of transportation in water, but does not include aircraft.
**(b) Vehicle** The word “vehicle” includes every description of carriage or other contrivance used, or capable of being used, as a means of transportation on land, but does not include aircraft.
**(c) Merchandise** The word “merchandise” means goods, wares, and chattels of every description, and includes merchandise the importation of which is prohibited, and monetary instruments as defined in [section 5312 of title 31](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title31-section5312&num=0&edition=prelim).
**(d) Person** The word “person” includes partnerships, associations, and corporations.
**(e) Master** The word “master” means the person having the command of the vessel.
**(f) Day** The word “day” means the time from eight o’clock antemeridian to five o’clock postmeridian.
**(g) Night** The word “night” means the time from five o’clock postmeridian to eight o’clock antemeridian.
**(h) United States** The term “United States” includes all Territories and possessions of the United States except the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Wake Island, Midway Islands, Kingman Reef, Johnston Island, and the island of Guam.
**(i) Officer of the customs; customs officer** The terms “officer of the customs” and “customs officer” mean any officer of the United States Customs Service of the Treasury Department (also hereinafter referred to as the “Customs Service”) or any commissioned, warrant, or petty officer of the Coast Guard, or any agent or other person, including foreign law enforcement officers, autho
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a)** Whoever within or upon any of the places now existing or hereafter reserved or acquired as provided in [section 7 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title18-section7&num=0&edition=prelim), or on, above, or below any portion of the territorial sea of the United States not within the jurisdiction of any State, Commonwealth, territory, possession, or district is guilty of any act or omission which, although not made punishable by any enactment of Congress, would be punishable if committed or omitted within the jurisdiction of the State, Territory, Possession, or District in which such place is situated, by the laws thereof in force at the time of such act or omission, shall be guilty of a like offense and subject to a like punishment.
**(b)**
(1) Subject to paragraph (2) and for purposes of subsection (a) of this section, that which may or shall be imposed through judicial or administrative action under the law of a State, territory, possession, or district, for a conviction for operating a motor vehicle under the influence of a drug or alcohol, shall be considered to be a punishment provided by that law. Any limitation on the right or privilege to operate a motor vehicle imposed under this subsection shall apply only to the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States.
(2)
(A) In addition to any term of imprisonment provided for operating a motor vehicle under the influence of a drug or alcohol imposed under the law of a State, territory, possession, or district, the punishment for such an offense under this section shall include an additional term of imprisonment of not more than 1 year, or if serious bodily injury of a minor is caused, not more than 5 years, or if death of a minor is caused, no
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
When used in this Act:
**(a)** The term “United States”, when used in a geographical sense, includes all Territories and possessions of the United States, except the Virgin Islands, the Canal Zone, American Samoa, Wake Island, Midway Islands, Kingman Reef, Johnston Island, and the island of Guam.
**(b)** The term “officer of the customs” means any officer of the Customs Service or any commissioned, warrant, or petty officer of the Coast Guard, or agent or other person authorized by law or by the Secretary of the Treasury, or appointed in writing by a collector, to perform the duties of an officer of the Customs Service.
**(c)** The term “customs waters” means, in the case of a foreign vessel subject to a treaty or other arrangement between a foreign government and the United States enabling or permitting the authorities of the United States to board, examine, search, seize, or otherwise to enforce upon such vessel upon the high seas the laws of the United States, the waters within such distance of the coast of the United States as the said authorities are or may be so enabled or permitted by such treaty or arrangement and, in the case of every other vessel, the waters within four leagues of the coast of the United States.
**(d)** The term “hovering vessel” means any vessel which is found or kept off the coast of the United States within or without the customs waters, if, from the history, conduct, character, or location of the vessel, it is reasonable to believe that such vessel is being used or may be used to introduce or promote or facilitate the introduction or attempted introduction of merchandise into the United States in violation of the laws respecting the revenue.
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
### Statutory Notes
Section, act June 22, 1874, ch. 391, § 13, 18 Stat. 188, provided for seizure of merchandise as security for fines. See [section 542 of Title 18](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title18-section542&num=0&edition=prelim), Crimes and Criminal Procedure.
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
Page 137
TITLE 18—CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
§ 542
Editorial Notes
AMENDMENTS
2018—Subsec. (c)(3), (4). Pub. L. 115–392 added par. (3),
redesignated former par. (3) as (4), and in par. (4), sub-
stituted ‘‘(1), (2), or (3)’’ for ‘‘(1) or (2)’’.
2002—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 107–273 realigned margins of
par. defining ‘‘State’’.
1996—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 104–294 inserted par. defin-
ing ‘‘State’’ at end.
CHAPTER 27—CUSTOMS
Sec.
541.
Entry of goods falsely classified.
542.
Entry of goods by means of false statements.
543.
Entry of goods for less than legal duty.
544.
Relanding of goods.
545.
Smuggling goods into the United States.
546.
Smuggling goods into foreign countries.
547.
Depositing goods in buildings on boundaries.
548.
Removing or repacking goods in warehouses.
549.
Removing
goods
from
customs
custody;
breaking seals.
550.
False claim for refund of duties.
551.
Concealing or destroying invoices or other
papers.
552.
Officers aiding importation of obscene or
treasonous books and articles.
553.
Importation or exportation of stolen motor
vehicles, off-highway mobile equipment,
vessels, or aircraft.
554.
Smuggling goods from the United States.
555.
Border tunnels and passages.
Editorial Notes
AMENDMENTS
2007—Pub. L. 110–161, div. E, title V, § 553(a)(2), Dec.
26, 2007, 121 Stat. 2082, added item 555 and struck out
item 554 ‘‘Border tunnels and passages’’.
2006—Pub. L. 109–295, title V, § 551(b), Oct. 4, 2006, 120
Stat. 1390, added item 554 ‘‘Border tunnels and pas-
sages’’.
Pub. L. 109–177, title III, § 311(b), Mar. 9, 2006, 120 Stat.
242, added item 554 ‘‘Smuggling goods from the United
States’’.
1984—Pub. L. 98–547, title III, § 301(b), Oct. 25, 1984, 98
Stat. 2771, added item 553.
§ 541. Entry of goods false
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