Laws: Cases and Codes : U.S. Code : Title 18 : Section 2252


   
U.S. Code as of: 01/19/04
Section 2252. Certain activities relating to material involving the sexual exploitation of minors

      (a) Any person who - 
        (1) knowingly transports or ships in interstate or foreign
      commerce by any means including by computer or mails, any visual
      depiction, if - 
          (A) the producing of such visual depiction involves the use
        of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct; and
          (B) such visual depiction is of such conduct;

        (2) knowingly receives, or distributes, any visual depiction
      that has been mailed, or has been shipped or transported in
      interstate or foreign commerce, or which contains materials which
      have been mailed or so shipped or transported, by any means
      including by computer, or knowingly reproduces any visual
      depiction for distribution in interstate or foreign commerce or
      through the mails, if - 
          (A) the producing of such visual depiction involves the use
        of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct; and
          (B) such visual depiction is of such conduct;

        (3) either - 
          (A) in the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of
        the United States, or on any land or building owned by, leased
        to, or otherwise used by or under the control of the Government
        of the United States, or in the Indian country as defined in
        section 1151 of this title, knowingly sells or possesses with
        intent to sell any visual depiction; or
          (B) knowingly sells or possesses with intent to sell any
        visual depiction that has been mailed, or has been shipped or
        transported in interstate or foreign commerce, or which was
        produced using materials which have been mailed or so shipped
        or transported, by any means, including by computer, if - 
            (i) the producing of such visual depiction involves the use
          of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct; and
            (ii) such visual depiction is of such conduct; or

        (4) either - 
          (A) in the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of
        the United States, or on any land or building owned by, leased
        to, or otherwise used by or under the control of the Government
        of the United States, or in the Indian country as defined in
        section 1151 of this title, knowingly possesses 1 or more
        books, magazines, periodicals, films, video tapes, or other
        matter which contain any visual depiction; or
          (B) knowingly possesses 1 or more books, magazines,
        periodicals, films, video tapes, or other matter which contain
        any visual depiction that has been mailed, or has been shipped
        or transported in interstate or foreign commerce, or which was
        produced using materials which have been mailed or so shipped
        or transported, by any means including by computer, if - 
            (i) the producing of such visual depiction involves the use
          of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct; and
            (ii) such visual depiction is of such conduct;

    shall be punished as provided in subsection (b) of this section.
      (b)(1) Whoever violates, or attempts or conspires to violate,
    paragraphs (!1) (1), (2), or (3) of subsection (a) shall be fined
    under this title and imprisoned not less than 5 years and not more
    than 20 years, but if such person has a prior conviction under this
    chapter, chapter 71, chapter 109A, or chapter 117, or under section
    920 of title 10 (article 120 of the Uniform Code of Military
    Justice), or under the laws of any State relating to aggravated
    sexual abuse, sexual abuse, or abusive sexual conduct involving a
    minor or ward, or the production, possession, receipt, mailing,
    sale, distribution, shipment, or transportation of child
    pornography, such person shall be fined under this title and
    imprisoned for not less than 15 years nor more than 40 years.

      (2) Whoever violates, or attempts or conspires to violate,
    paragraph (4) of subsection (a) shall be fined under this title or
    imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both, but if such person has
    a prior conviction under this chapter, chapter 71, chapter 109A, or
    chapter 117, or under section 920 of title 10 (article 120 of the
    Uniform Code of Military Justice), or under the laws of any State
    relating to aggravated sexual abuse, sexual abuse, or abusive
    sexual conduct involving a minor or ward, or the production,
    possession, receipt, mailing, sale, distribution, shipment, or
    transportation of child pornography, such person shall be fined
    under this title and imprisoned for not less than 10 years nor more
    than 20 years.
      (c) Affirmative Defense. - It shall be an affirmative defense to
    a charge of violating paragraph (4) of subsection (a) that the
    defendant - 
        (1) possessed less than three matters containing any visual
      depiction proscribed by that paragraph; and
        (2) promptly and in good faith, and without retaining or
      allowing any person, other than a law enforcement agency, to
      access any visual depiction or copy thereof - 
          (A) took reasonable steps to destroy each such visual
        depiction; or
          (B) reported the matter to a law enforcement agency and
        afforded that agency access to each such visual depiction.



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