(a) Whoever plunders, steals, or destroys any money, goods, merchandise, or other effects from or belonging to any vessel in distress, or wrecked, lost, stranded, or cast away, upon the sea, or upon any reef, shoal, bank, or rocks of the sea, or in any other place within the admiralty and maritime jurisdiction of the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both.
(b) Whoever willfully obstructs the escape of any person endeavoring to save his life from such vessel, or the wreck thereof; orWhoever holds out or shows any false light, or extinguishes any true light, with intent to bring any vessel sailing upon the sea into danger or distress or shipwreck—
Shall be imprisoned not less than ten years and may be imprisoned for life.
Structure US Code
Title 18— CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
CHAPTER 81— PIRACY AND PRIVATEERING
§ 1651. Piracy under law of nations
§ 1654. Arming or serving on privateers
§ 1655. Assault on commander as piracy
§ 1656. Conversion or surrender of vessel
§ 1657. Corruption of seamen and confederating with pirates
§ 1658. Plunder of distressed vessel
§ 1659. Attack to plunder vessel