Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2023
2/2/2024, 5:15 AMSummary of Bill S 140
Bill 118 s 140, also known as the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2023, is a piece of legislation currently being considered by the US Congress. The main goal of this bill is to address the issue of organized retail crime, which involves groups of individuals working together to steal merchandise from retail stores for the purpose of reselling it for profit.The bill includes several key provisions aimed at combating organized retail crime. One of the main provisions is the establishment of a task force within the Department of Justice that will be responsible for investigating and prosecuting individuals involved in organized retail crime. This task force will work closely with state and local law enforcement agencies to coordinate efforts to combat this type of criminal activity.
Additionally, the bill includes measures to increase penalties for individuals convicted of organized retail crime. This includes harsher sentences for those found guilty of participating in these criminal activities, as well as increased fines and restitution for victims of organized retail crime. Furthermore, the bill includes provisions to enhance information sharing between retailers and law enforcement agencies to help identify and track organized retail crime rings. This will help to improve coordination and cooperation between different agencies in order to more effectively combat this type of criminal activity. Overall, the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2023 aims to address the growing problem of organized retail crime by increasing penalties, enhancing information sharing, and establishing a task force dedicated to investigating and prosecuting individuals involved in these criminal activities.
Congressional Summary of S 140
Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2023
This bill expands federal enforcement of criminal offenses related to organized retail crime. Organized retail crime typically refers to large-scale retail theft and fraud by organized groups of professional shoplifters, or boosters, who make money by stealing merchandise and reselling it for a fraction of the retail cost.
First, with respect to criminal offenses involving the transportation of stolen property across state lines and the sale or receipt of stolen goods, the bill broadens the scope of conduct that qualifies as offenses. Additionally, the bill makes the offenses predicate offenses (i.e., underlying offenses) for prosecutions under the federal money laundering statute and authorizes the criminal forfeiture of any property representing or traceable to the gross proceeds obtained as a result of an offense or a conspiracy to commit an offense.
Second, with respect to criminal offenses involving theft from an interstate or foreign shipment, the bill makes an offense an underlying offense for prosecution under the federal money laundering statute and authorizes the criminal forfeiture of any property representing or traceable to the gross proceeds obtained as a result of an offense or a conspiracy to commit an offense.
Finally, the bill establishes a center—the Organized Retail Crime Coordination Center—within the Department of Homeland Security to coordinate the federal law enforcement activities related to organized retail crime.
