---
kind: "section"
citation: "18 U.S.C. § 1036"
title: "18"
title_heading: "Crimes and Criminal Procedure"
number: "1036"
heading: "Entry by false pretenses to any real property, vessel, or aircraft of the United States or secure area of any airport or seaport"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/18/1036"
units:
  - "Part I — Crimes"
  - "Chapter 47 — Fraud and False Statements"
---

# §1036. Entry by false pretenses to any real property, vessel, or aircraft of the United States or secure area of any airport or seaport

- (a) [Whoever](/usc/18/921.md?p=a-1), by any fraud or false pretense, enters or attempts to enter—
  - (1) any real property belonging in whole or in part to, or leased by, the [United States](/usc/18/229F.md?p=9);
  - (2) any vessel or [aircraft](/usc/18/31.md?p=a-1) belonging in whole or in part to, or leased by, the [United States](/usc/18/229F.md?p=9);
  - (3) any secure or restricted area of any seaport, designated as secure in an approved security plan, as required under [section 70103 of title 46](/usc/46/70103.md), United States Code, and the rules and regulations promulgated under that section; or
  - (4) any secure area of any airport,

  shall be punished as provided in [subsection (b)](#b) of this section.

- (b) The punishment for an offense under [subsection (a)](#a) of this section is—
  - (1) a fine under this title or imprisonment for not more than 10 years, or both, if the offense is committed with the intent to commit a felony; or
  - (2) a fine under this title or imprisonment for not more than 6 months, or both, in any other case.
- (c) As used in this section—
  - (1) the term “secure area” means an area access to which is restricted by the airport authority, captain of the seaport, or a public agency; and
  - (2) the term “airport” has the meaning given such term in [section 47102 of title 49](/usc/49/47102.md).

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 106–547, § 2(a), Dec. 19, 2000, 114 Stat. 2738; amended Pub. L. 109–177, title III, § 302(a), Mar. 9, 2006, 120 Stat. 233.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2006—Pub. L. 109–177, § 302(a)(4), substituted “any airport or seaport” for “any airport” in section catchline.

Subsec. (a)(3), (4). Pub. L. 109–177, § 302(a)(1), added par. (3) and redesignated former par. (3) as (4).

Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 109–177, § 302(a)(2), substituted “10 years” for “5 years”.

Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 109–177, § 302(a)(3), inserted “, captain of the seaport,” after “airport authority”.