Section 61-3A-7 - Organized retail theft; offenses; penalties; cumulation; venue; forfeiture(a) Any person who enters into a common scheme or plan with two or more other persons to violate the provisions of section one of this article involving merchandise of a cumulative value of $2,000 or more with the intent to sell, trade or otherwise distribute the merchandise shall be guilty of a felony, and, upon conviction, shall be imprisoned in a state correctional facility for a determinate term of not less than one nor more than ten years or be fined not less than $1,000 nor more than $10,000, or both imprisoned and fined.(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section any person who enters into a common scheme or plan with two or more other persons to violate the provisions of section one of this article involving merchandise of a cumulative value of $10,000 or more with the intent to sell, trade or otherwise distribute the merchandise shall be guilty of a felony, and, upon conviction, shall be imprisoned in a state correctional facility for a determinate term of not less than two nor more than twenty years fined not less than $2,000 nor more than $25,000, or both imprisoned and fined.(c) Any person who purchases, trades or barters for, or otherwise obtains with any form of consideration, merchandise from persons he knows or has reason to believe was obtained by three or more persons engaged in a common scheme or plan to violate the provisions of section one of this article shall be guilty of a felony.(d) Any person who violates the provisions of subsection (c) of this section by purchasing, trading or bartering for merchandise with a cumulative value of $2,000 or more shall, upon conviction, be imprisoned in a state correctional facility for a determinate term of not less than one year, nor more than ten years or fined not less than $1,000 nor more than $10,000, or both imprisoned and fined.(e) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (d) of this section, any person who violates the provisions of subsection (c) of this section by purchasing, trading or bartering for merchandise with a cumulative value of $10,000 or more shall, upon conviction, be imprisoned in a state correctional facility for a determinate term of not less than two years, nor more than twenty years or fined not less than $2,000 nor more than $25,000, or both imprisoned and fined.(f) In determining the value of merchandise in a prosecution under this section, it is permissible to cumulate the value of merchandise obtained as part of a common scheme or plan.(g) Violations of subsections (a), (b) and (c) of this section occurring in one or more counties of this state may be prosecuted in any county wherein any part of the offense was committed and the provisions of subsection (f) of this section are applicable to offenses so occurring.(h)(1) Any interest a person has acquired or maintained in any cash, asset or other property of value in any form, derived in part or total from any proceeds obtained from participating in a violation of this section, may be seized and forfeited consistent with the procedures in the West Virginia Contraband Forfeiture Act, as provided in article seven, chapter sixty-a of this code.(2) Notwithstanding subdivision (1) of this subsection, at sentencing for a violation of this section, the court may direct disgorgement to the victim or victims of any cash, asset or other property of value in any form, derived in part or total from any proceeds obtained from such violation.Added by 2017 Acts, ch. 53 (HB 2367), eff. 7/7/2017.