Theft offenses that fall under the grand theft category include automobile theft, pickpocketing, and pocketbook snatching. According to federal regulations, it is the “unlawful removing, carrying, leading, or riding away of something” from the custody of another.
Do not confuse grand theft and petty theft, two terms for crimes with monetary values over and below a predetermined threshold in various nations. Theft becomes a federal problem when people steal things from the federal government. Read on to learn more and then contact Chambers Law Firm at 714-760-4088 for a consultation with a federal defense attorney.
Laws against grand theft
State theft laws and federal grand theft legislation have different requirements. Although almost all states recognize theft, federal grand theft legislation are concentrated on preventing the theft of public property. Although not all of them are recognized by certain states, the federal government of the United States recognizes more than a hundred different types of theft.
Theft offenses and grand theft accusations
Theft is a broad category of offenses covered by the federal grand theft act, of which the following are only a few examples: scams, fraud, and insider trading; counterfeit credit card products or services; similar “schemes” that also involve misrepresentation are instances of theft through trickery, deceit, or fraud.
Property that has been completely removed from the scene of the theft is referred to as “asportation” in legalese, or theft through taking. When defending against asportation, one should use common sense to determine if an object has been “completely moved” or not.
According to most definitions of theft, the item taken must be personal property, which can include real estate as well as anything tangible, documents, services, information, intellectual property, or illegal items.
Proving grand theft
To establish grand theft on a state or federal level, the prosecution must demonstrate that the stolen property was in the possession of someone without the owner’s consent. This may be trickier than it first appears because occasionally, even the item’s original owner may be unable to recognize it.
The alleged thief must have planned to permanently change the property to his or her use or permanently deny the original owner of the use of the property, which is the final crucial element of grand theft. Due to the possibility of irrevocable loss, people may face charges of theft even if they intended to return the stolen goods.
Potential consequences for a federal grand theft conviction
The length of imprisonment and penalties for grand theft depend on the value of the object seized as well as any aggravating factors. The federal sentence guidelines for grand theft make use of the “Base Offense Level,” which is six points. Bonus points are awarded for theft losses of $5,000 or greater.
Depending on a list of more than eighteen aggravating situations, additional points are given. Depending on whether the theft was made worse by other crimes like breaking and entering, the punishment might be anything from a few months to twenty years or more.
If you are facing federal grand theft charges, seek assistance
You have no reason to handle these allegations without the assistance of a qualified attorney. We at Chambers Law Firm are ready to offer a no-obligation case examination. Call us at 714-760-4088 if you are concerned about the future, require legal counsel, and want to choose the best course of action.
