2019 Massachusetts General Laws
Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases
Title I - Crimes and Punishments
Chapter 266 - Crimes Against Property
Section 60 - Stolen Goods; Buying, Receiving or Aiding in Concealment; Penalty
Section 60. Whoever buys, receives or aids in the concealment of stolen or embezzled property, knowing it to have been stolen or embezzled, or whoever with intent to defraud buys, receives or aids in the concealment of property, knowing it to have been obtained from a person by false pretense of carrying on a business in the ordinary course of trade or whoever obtains or exerts control over property in the custody of any law enforcement agency, or any individual acting on behalf of a law enforcement agency, which is explicitly represented to such person by any law enforcement officer or any individual acting on behalf of a law enforcement agency as being stolen and who intends to deprive its rightful owner permanently of the use and enjoyment of said property shall be punished as follows: if the value of such property does not exceed $1,200, for a first offense by imprisonment in the house of correction for not more than 21/2 years or by a fine of not more than $3,000; if the value of such property does not exceed $1,200, for a second or subsequent offense by imprisonment in the house of correction for not more than 21/2 years or by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than 5 years or by a fine of not more than $5,000 or by both such fine and imprisonment; or if the value of such property exceeds $1,200 by imprisonment in the house of correction for not more than 21/2 years or by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than 5 years or by a fine of not more than $5,000 or by both such fine and imprisonment.
It shall not be a defense that the property was obtained by means other than through the commission of a theft offense if the property was explicitly represented to the accused as having been obtained through the commission of a theft offense.
A law enforcement officer may arrest any person without warrant that the officer has probable cause to believe has committed an offense under this section and the value of the property stolen exceeds $250.
