---
kind: "section"
citation: "18 U.S.C. § 1386"
title: "18"
title_heading: "Crimes and Criminal Procedure"
number: "1386"
heading: "Keys and keyways used in security applications by the Department of Defense"
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/18/1386"
units:
  - "Part I — Crimes"
  - "Chapter 67 — Military and Navy"
---

# §1386. Keys and keyways used in security applications by the Department of Defense

- (a)
  - (1) Whoever steals, purloins, embezzles, or obtains by false pretense any lock or [key](#c) to any lock, knowing that such lock or [key](#c) has been adopted by any part of the [Department](/usc/18/6.md) of Defense, including all [Department](/usc/18/6.md) of Defense [agencies](/usc/18/6.md), military [departments](/usc/18/6.md), and [agencies](/usc/18/6.md) thereof, for use in protecting conventional arms, [ammunition](/usc/18/1791.md?p=d-2) or [explosives](/usc/18/2332f.md?p=e-8), special weapons, and classified information or classified equipment shall be punished as provided in [subsection (b)](#b).
  - (2) Whoever—
    - (A) knowingly and unlawfully makes, forges, or counterfeits any [key](#c), knowing that such [key](#c) has been adopted by any part of the [Department](/usc/18/6.md) of Defense, including all [Department](/usc/18/6.md) of Defense [agencies](/usc/18/6.md), military [departments](/usc/18/6.md), and [agencies](/usc/18/6.md) thereof, for use in protecting conventional arms, [ammunition](/usc/18/1791.md?p=d-2) or [explosives](/usc/18/2332f.md?p=e-8), special weapons, and classified information or classified equipment; or
    - (B) knowing that any lock or [key](#c) has been adopted by any part of the [Department](/usc/18/6.md) of Defense, including all [Department](/usc/18/6.md) of Defense [agencies](/usc/18/6.md), military [departments](/usc/18/6.md), and [agencies](/usc/18/6.md) thereof, for use in protecting conventional arms, [ammunition](/usc/18/1791.md?p=d-2) or [explosives](/usc/18/2332f.md?p=e-8), special weapons, and classified information or classified equipment, possesses any such lock or [key](#c) with the intent to unlawfully or improperly use, sell, or otherwise dispose of such lock or [key](#c) or cause the same to be unlawfully or improperly used, sold, or otherwise disposed of,

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

  - (3) Whoever, being engaged as a contractor or otherwise in the manufacture of any lock or [key](#c) knowing that such lock or [key](#c) has been adopted by any part of the [Department](/usc/18/6.md) of Defense, including all [Department](/usc/18/6.md) of Defense [agencies](/usc/18/6.md), military [departments](/usc/18/6.md), and [agencies](/usc/18/6.md) thereof, for use in protecting conventional arms, [ammunition](/usc/18/1791.md?p=d-2) or [explosives](/usc/18/2332f.md?p=e-8), special weapons, and classified information or classified equipment, delivers any such finished or unfinished lock or any such [key](#c) to any person not duly authorized by the Secretary of Defense or his designated representative to receive the same, unless the person receiving it is the contractor for furnishing the same or engaged in the manufacture thereof in the manner authorized by the contract, or the agent of such manufacturer, shall be punished as provided in [subsection (b)](#b).
- (b) Whoever commits an offense under [subsection (a)](#a) shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both.
- (c) As used in this section, the term “key” means any key, keyblank, or keyway adopted by any part of the [Department](/usc/18/6.md) of Defense, including all [Department](/usc/18/6.md) of Defense [agencies](/usc/18/6.md), military [departments](/usc/18/6.md), and [agencies](/usc/18/6.md) thereof, for use in protecting conventional arms, [ammunition](/usc/18/1791.md?p=d-2) or [explosives](/usc/18/2332f.md?p=e-8), special weapons, and classified information or classified equipment.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 102–190, div. A, title X, § 1090(a), Dec. 5, 1991, 105 Stat. 1485.)