(a) In General.—Except as otherwise expressly provided by law, no person shall be prosecuted, tried, or punished for any offense, not capital, unless the indictment is found or the information is instituted within five years next after such offense shall have been committed.
(b) DNA Profile Indictment.—(1) In general.—In any indictment for an offense under chapter 109A for which the identity of the accused is unknown, it shall be sufficient to describe the accused as an individual whose name is unknown, but who has a particular DNA profile.
(2) Exception.—Any indictment described under paragraph (1), which is found not later than 5 years after the offense under chapter 109A is committed, shall not be subject to—(A) the limitations period described under subsection (a); and
(B) the provisions of chapter 208 until the individual is arrested or served with a summons in connection with the charges contained in the indictment.
(3) Defined term.—For purposes of this subsection, the term “DNA profile” means a set of DNA identification characteristics.
Structure US Code
Title 18— CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
§ 3283. Offenses against children
§ 3284. Concealment of bankrupt’s assets
§ 3286. Extension of statute of limitation for certain terrorism offenses
§ 3287. Wartime suspension of limitations
§ 3288. Indictments and information dismissed after period of limitations
§ 3289. Indictments and information dismissed before period of limitations
§ 3290. Fugitives from justice
§ 3291. Nationality, citizenship and passports
§ 3292. Suspension of limitations to permit United States to obtain foreign evidence
§ 3293. Financial institution offenses
§ 3294. Theft of major artwork
§ 3296. Counts dismissed pursuant to a plea agreement
§ 3297. Cases involving DNA evidence
§ 3298. Trafficking-related offenses
§ 3299. Child abduction and sex offenses