The Travel Act prohibits “whoever travels in interstate or foreign commerce or uses the mail or any facility in interstate or foreign commerce” from distributing the proceeds of, committing, or promoting unlawful activity across state lines.

The Travel Act (18 U.S.C. § 1952) is a powerful federal criminal statute enacted in 1961 as part of Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy's crackdown on organized crime. It prohibits anyone from traveling in interstate or foreign commerce, or using the mail or any facility in interstate commerce (like a phone or the internet), with the intent to distribute the proceeds of an "unlawful activity" or to promote, manage, or carry on any unlawful activity. Crucially, in 2026, the Travel Act is frequently used to prosecute commercial bribery and money laundering, even when the crime doesn't involve traditional "organized crime" figures. It effectively "federalizes" state-level crimes; if you commit a crime that violates a state law (like bribery) and you used a phone or an airplane to facilitate it, the Travel Act allows federal prosecutors to step in. This act remains a cornerstone of U.S. law for prosecuting white-collar crime and cross-border criminal enterprises that attempt to use the U.S. transportation system as a shield for illicit business.