§ 1709. Theft of mail matter by officer or employee

351 words·~2 min read·/usc/title-18/section-1709

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Whoever, being a Postal Service officer or employee, embezzles any letter, postal card, package, bag, or mail, or any article or thing contained therein entrusted to him or which comes into his possession intended to be conveyed by mail, or carried or delivered by any carrier, messenger, agent, or other person employed in any department of the Postal Service, or forwarded through or delivered from any post office or station thereof established by authority of the Postmaster General or of the Postal Service; or steals, abstracts, or removes from any such letter, package, bag, or mail, any article or thing contained therein, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.

(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 780; Pub. L. 91–375, § 6(j)(19)(A), Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 778; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(I), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.)

Historical and Revision Notes

Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 318 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, § 195, 35 Stat. 1125).

The provisions of said section 318 of title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., were incorporated in this section and section 1703 of this title.

The fine of “$500” was increased to “$2,000” as more proportionate to the imprisonment provision and to conform with other comparable sections. (See sections 1702 and 1708 of this title.)

Changes were made in phraseology.

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U.S. Code

§ 1710
Theft of newspapers

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U.S. Code

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June 25, 1948, ch. 645
62 Stat. 780
Pub. L. 91–375, § 6(j)(19)(A)
84 Stat. 778
Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(I)
108 Stat. 2147
Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, § 195
35 Stat. 1125
section 318 of title 18
Pub. L. 103–322
Pub. L. 91–375
section 15(a) of Pub. L. 91–375

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cites case law

§ 1709

Theft of mail matter by officer or employee

U.S.C.×1

U.S.C.§ 1703

U.S.C.§ 101

ActJune 25, 1948, ch. 645

Stat.62 Stat. 780

Pub. L.Pub. L. 91–375, § 6(j)(19)(A)

Stat.84 Stat. 778

Pub. L.Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(I)

Cites 14 · showing 7Cited by 1 across 1 source