Theft of government property is the crime of stealing property belonging to a federal, state or local government, covering conduct such as embezzlement, stealing records, vouchers or money for personal gain, and possessing or concealing government material known to be stolen. It is treated as a felony in most jurisdictions, typically carrying a maximum sentence of up to ten years imprisonment plus a fine, though some laws set a lighter maximum of one year imprisonment plus a fine when the property taken is worth less than 1,000 dollars. A related offense, destruction of government property, is described as carrying penalties of up to 250,000 dollars in fines or five years imprisonment.
Facts
Classification Code Typical PenaltyOften a maximum ten-year prison sentence, plus fines 1 Elements of OffenseEmbezzlement, or stealing records, vouchers, money and similar material with intent to personally gain, convey or dispose of it; also possessing, concealing or keeping materials of value while knowing they were stolen 1 Notable ExampleA mother and her son stealing laptop computers from the office of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, cited in the article as an example of government property theft during the stormings it describes 1 Jurisdiction VariationIn some countries and areas, where the property is worth under 1,000 dollars the sentence is only one year plus a fine 1 Classification
Offense GradeSerious or Indictable Offense 1 Connections
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Source Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School: 18 U.S. Code § 641 - Public money, property or recordsStatute textQuote, Statute text
Whoever embezzles, steals, purloins, or knowingly converts to his use or the use of another, or without authority, sells, conveys or disposes of any record, voucher, money, or thing of value of the United States or of any department or agency thereof, or any property made or being made under contract for the United States or any department or agency thereof; or
Sources
1. Theft of government property, Wikipedia
Opening definition
the crime is a felony in most areas
Passage listing the acts the crime includes
stealing any records, vouchers, money, etc. with intent to personally gain
Passage on charges and maximum sentences
charges for theft of government property often carry maximum ten-year prison sentences
Examples of property theft during the Capitol stormings
one mother and her son stealing laptop computers from the office of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi
Passage on lower maximum for property under 1,000 dollars
if the properties are under $1,000 (in some countries, areas of the world), whosoever committed the crime only has a one-year sentence plus a fine
Opening definition, felony-in-most-areas clause
The theft of government property, also classified as stealing property from government officials, is the act of performing theft of property from federal, state or local governments; the crime is a felony in most areas.
In Group: Theft, Larceny and Shoplifting, Lead sentence
The theft of government property, also classified as stealing property from government officials, is the act of performing theft of property from federal, state or local governments; the crime is a felony in most areas.
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