StacksVerified U.S. federal law reference

18 U.S.C. § 668 — Theft of major artwork

Verified against govinfo.gov as of June 20, 2026View official text on govinfo.gov ↗
  1. (a)DefinitionsIn this section—
    1. (1)“museum” means an organized and permanent institution, the activities of which affect interstate or foreign commerce, that—
      1. (A)is situated in the United States;
      2. (B)is established for an essentially educational or aesthetic purpose;
      3. (C)has a professional staff; and
      4. (D)owns, utilizes, and cares for tangible objects that are exhibited to the public on a regular schedule.
    2. (2)“object of cultural heritage” means an object that is—
      1. (A)over 100 years old and worth in excess of $5,000; or
      2. (B)worth at least $100,000.
  2. (b)OffensesA person who—shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both.
    1. (1)steals or obtains by fraud from the care, custody, or control of a museum any object of cultural heritage; or
    2. (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,