---
kind: "section"
citation: "18 U.S.C. § 3301"
title: "18"
title_heading: "Crimes and Criminal Procedure"
number: "3301"
heading: "Securities fraud offenses"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/18/3301"
units:
  - "Part II — Criminal Procedure"
  - "Chapter 213 — Limitations"
---

# §3301. Securities fraud offenses

- (a) **Definition.—** In this section, the term “securities fraud [offense](/usc/18/3156.md?p=a-2)” means a violation of, or a conspiracy or an attempt to violate—
  - (1) [section 1348](/usc/18/1348.md);
  - (2) section 32(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ([15 U.S.C. 78ff(a)](/usc/15/78ff.md?p=a));
  - (3) section 24 of the Securities Act of 1933 ([15 U.S.C. 77x](/usc/15/77x.md));
  - (4) section 217 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 ([15 U.S.C. 80b–17](/usc/15/80b–17.md));
  - (5) section 49 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 ([15 U.S.C. 80a–48](/usc/15/80a–48.md)); or
  - (6) section 325 of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 ([15 U.S.C. 77yyy](/usc/15/77yyy.md)).
- (b) **Limitation.—** No person shall be prosecuted, tried, or punished for a securities fraud [offense](/usc/18/3156.md?p=a-2), unless the indictment is found or the information is instituted within 6 years after the commission of the [offense](/usc/18/3156.md?p=a-2).

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 111–203, title X, § 1079A(b)(1), July 21, 2010, 124 Stat. 2079.)

## Notes

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective 1 day after July 21, 2010, except as otherwise provided, see section 4 of Pub. L. 111–203, set out as a note under section 5301 of Title 12, Banks and Banking.