DuPage County Receiving Stolen Goods Attorneys

Illinois Criminal Defense Lawyers Protecting Your Reputation and Rights

Whether you have stolen property in your possession at your home or business (pawnshop), you can be convicted of either a misdemeanor or felony depending on the value of the property. If you are arrested for possession of stolen property in DuPage County, the penalties can include jail or prison, restitution, fines, probation and a criminal record. Because the offense is considered a form of theft, the offense qualifies as a crime of moral turpitude. Convictions involving crimes of moral turpitude can result in the additional penalties that include loss of eligibility for a professional license and disqualification for certain immigration benefits.

At Ramsell & Kunowski, L.L.C., our DuPage County criminal defense attorneys have been representing those charged with theft offenses, including the receipt of stolen goods for over twenty years. Our law firm’s success in representing over 16,000 people during our tenure as a law firm has garnered national media attention on ABC, Fox, NBC, CBS and major newspapers such as The New York Times and Washington Post. Our founding partner Donald Ramsell has established a national reputation and received recognition as an “Illinois Leading Lawyer in Illinois Criminal Appeals” and an “Illinois Leading Lawyer in Criminal-DUI Defense” by Crane Magazine.

What Constitutes Receiving Stolen Goods in Illinois?

Under Illinois law, theft does not exclusively include taking property of another with the intention to permanently deprive the owner of the property. An individual also commits a theft offense by knowingly obtaining property after it has been stolen. An individual can be charged with the Illinois criminal offense of receiving stolen property if the individual holds, obtains or receives property that the individual knows is stolen. The person charged must also prevent the owner of the property from getting the property back or receive the property for personal gain.

The requirement that the person charged “know” the property was stolen does not mean that the person must have “actual knowledge”. If the circumstances would put a reasonable person on notice that the property was stolen, the recipient cannot simply bury his or her head in the sand or fail to inquire further. When the person accused of receiving stolen property fails to inquire about paperwork that is not in order or the origin of the property when a reasonable person would inquire, this can merit a charge of receiving stolen property in DuPage County.

Criminal Attorneys at a Nationally Recognized Law Firm

Our DuPage County criminal defense lawyers are committed to providing aggressive defense of our clients’ rights and liberty. We invite you to call us today at 630-256-8001 or send us an email to schedule your free consultation in our conveniently located office in Naperville. Ramsell & Kunowski, L.L.C. also has offices in Wheaton and in St. Charles or Rolling Meadows by appointment.