republic-os/legal/us/code/title-18/chapter-41/section-876.md

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LegalText	18 U.S.C. § 876	Mailing threatening communications	us	united_states_code	code_section	18	CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE	41	EXTORTION AND THREATS	876	18 U.S.C. § 876	current	119-100	2026-06-26	official	https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc18@119-100.zip	/us/usc/t18/s876	data/legal/raw/us/code/title-18/usc18.xml	0a64e9f09f098b7c90882676d4d873b4d64c3fc9387d642e8f29ad380d554cba	1a1bbbbdb59e376ada4eb7ad1056fd68d396679ee7ab59f0561af15006122708	700d4a445615890e6b8df8d4594152c5a1d83dfbabdb06936220cc7beec4f839	2026-07-04	official	legal us-code

18 U.S.C. § 876 - Mailing threatening communications

Text

(a) Whoever knowingly deposits in any post office or authorized depository for mail matter, to be sent or delivered by the Postal Service or knowingly causes to be delivered by the Postal Service according to the direction thereon, any communication, with or without a name or designating mark subscribed thereto, addressed to any other person, and containing any demand or request for ransom or reward for the release of any kidnapped person, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both.

(b) Whoever, with intent to extort from any person any money or other thing of value, so deposits, or causes to be delivered, as aforesaid, any communication containing any threat to kidnap any person or any threat to injure the person of the addressee or of another, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both.

(c) Whoever knowingly so deposits or causes to be delivered as aforesaid, any communication with or without a name or designating mark subscribed thereto, addressed to any other person and containing any threat to kidnap any person or any threat to injure the person of the addressee or of another, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both. If such a communication is addressed to a United States judge, a Federal law enforcement officer, or an official who is covered by section 1114, the individual shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both.

(d) Whoever, with intent to extort from any person any money or other thing of value, knowingly so deposits or causes to be delivered, as aforesaid, any communication, with or without a name or designating mark subscribed thereto, addressed to any other person and containing any threat to injure the property or reputation of the addressee or of another, or the reputation of a deceased person, or any threat to accuse the addressee or any other person of a crime, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years, or both. If such a communication is addressed to a United States judge, a Federal law enforcement officer, or an official who is covered by section 1114, the individual shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both.

(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 741; Pub. L. 91–375, § 6(j)(7), Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 777; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, §§ 330016(1)(G), (H), (K), 330021(2), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147, 2150; Pub. L. 107–273, div. C, title I, § 11008(d), Nov. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 1818.)

Notes

Historical and Revision NotesBased on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 338a (July 8, 1932, ch. 464, § 1, 47 Stat. 649; June 28, 1935, ch. 326, 49 Stat. 427; May 15, 1939, ch. 133, § 1, 53 Stat. 742). Reference to persons causing or procuring was omitted as unnecessary in view of definition of “principal” in section 2 of this title. Provisions as to district of trial were omitted as covered by sections 3237 and 3239 of this title. Changes in phraseology and arrangement were made.

Editorial Notes

Amendments2002—Pub. L. 107–273 designated first to fourth pars. as subsecs. (a) to (d), respectively, and, in subsecs. (c) and (d), inserted at end “If such a communication is addressed to a United States judge, a Federal law enforcement officer, or an official who is covered by section 1114, the individual shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both.” 1994—Pub. L. 103–322, § 330021(2), substituted “kidnapped” for “kidnaped” in first par. Pub. L. 103–322, § 330016(1)(K), substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $5,000” in first and second pars. Pub. L. 103–322, § 330016(1)(H), substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $1,000” in third par. Pub. L. 103–322, § 330016(1)(G), substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $500” in fourth par. 1970—Pub. L. 91–375 substituted “Postal Service” for “Post Office Department” in two places in first par.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1970 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 91–375 effective within 1 year after Aug. 12, 1970, on date established therefor by Board of Governors of United States Postal Service and published by it in Federal Register, see section 15(a) of Pub. L. 91–375, set out as an Effective Date note preceding section 101 of Title 39, Postal Service.