18 U.S.C. § 175c — Variola virus

Except as provided in paragraph (2), it shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly produce, engineer, synthesize, acquire, transfer directly or indirectly, receive, possess, import, export, or use, or possess and threaten to use, variola virus.

This subsection does not apply to conduct by, or under the authority of, the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

the offense occurs in or affects interstate or foreign commerce;

the offense occurs outside of the United States and is committed by a national of the United States^*;

the offense is committed against a national of the United States while the national is outside the United States;

the offense is committed against any property that is owned, leased, or used by the United States or by any department^* or agency^* of the United States, whether the property is within or outside the United States; or

an offender aids or abets any person over whom jurisdiction exists under this subsection in committing an offense under this section or conspires with any person over whom jurisdiction exists under this subsection to commit an offense under this section.

Any person who violates, or attempts or conspires to violate, subsection (a) shall be fined not more than $2,000,000 and shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment not less than 25 years or to imprisonment for life.

Any person who, in the course of a violation of subsection (a), uses, attempts or conspires to use, or possesses and threatens to use, any item or items described in subsection (a), shall be fined not more than $2,000,000 and imprisoned for not less than 30 years or imprisoned for life.

If the death of another results from a person’s violation of subsection (a), the person shall be fined not more than $2,000,000 and punished by imprisonment for life.