2021 West Virginia Code
Chapter 61. Crimes and Their Punishment
Article 15. Money Laundering
§61-15-1. Definitions
As used in this article, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
(1) “Conducts” includes, but is not limited to, initiating, concluding, participating in, or assisting in a transaction.
(2) “Criminal activity” means a violation of:
(A) The felony provisions of section eleven, article forty-one, chapter thirty-three of this code;
(B) Felony violations of chapter sixty-a of this code;
(C) Felony violations of article two of this chapter;
(D) The provisions of sections one, two, three, four, five, eleven, twelve, subsection (a), section thirteen, fourteen, eighteen, nineteen, twenty, twenty-a, twenty-two, twenty-four, twenty-four-a, twenty-four-b and twenty-four-d, article three of this chapter;
(E) Felony provisions of article three-c, three-e and four of this chapter;
(F) The provisions of section eight, article eight of this chapter; and
(G) The felony provisions of articles eight-a, eight-c and fourteen of this chapter.
(3) “Cryptocurrency” means digital currency in which encryption techniques are used to regulate the generation of units of currency and verify the transfer of funds, and which operate independently of a central bank.
(4) “Financial institution” means a financial institution as defined in 31 U.S.C. §5312 which institution is located in this state.
(5) “Financial transaction” means a transaction which effects intrastate, interstate or foreign commerce, and:
(A) Involves the movement of funds by wire or other means;
(B) Involves the use of a monetary instrument;
(C) Involves the transfer of title to real or personal property; or
(D) Involves the use of a financial institution which is engaged in, or the activities of which effect intrastate, interstate or foreign commerce.
(6) “Gift card” means a card, voucher or certificate which contains or represents a specific amount of money issued by a retailer or financial institution to be used as an alternative to cash purposes.
(7) “Knowing” means actual knowledge. For purposes of this article, a person may be considered to have actual knowledge if the belief is based upon representations of a law-enforcement officer engaged in his or her official duties while acting in an undercover capacity or a person acting at the direction of a law-enforcement officer engaged in his or her official duties.
(8) “Monetary instruments” means coin or currency of the United States or of any other country, travelers’ checks, personal checks, bank checks, gift cards, prepaid credit cards, money orders, cryptocurrency, investment securities in bearer form or otherwise in such form that title thereto passes upon delivery, and negotiable instruments in bearer form or otherwise in such form that title thereto passes upon delivery.
(9) “Proceeds” means property or monetary instrument acquired or derived, directly or indirectly, from, produced through, realized through, or caused by an act or omission and includes property, real or personal, of any kind.
(10) “Property” means anything of value, and includes any interest therein, including any benefit, privilege, claim or right with respect to anything of value, whether real or personal, and monetary instruments.
(11) “Transaction” means a purchase, sale, loan, pledge, gift, transfer, delivery, or other disposition. With respect to a financial institution, “transaction” includes a deposit, withdrawal, transfer between accounts, exchange of currency, loan, extension of credit, purchase or sale of any stock, bond, certificate of deposit, or other monetary instrument, use of a safety deposit box, or any other payment, transfer, or delivery by, through or to a financial institution, by whatever means effected.
