Aggregation Limits in Federal Theft Law Clarified

Multiple thefts of public property that each involve amounts of less than $1,000 may be aggregated under 18 U.S.C. § 641 so that a felony can be charged on each count when the total across all counts exceeds $1,000, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit ruled Dec. 11. (United States v. Lagrone, 2014 BL 347700, No. 13-10049)

The language in the statute that limits the penalty if the total amount of the thefts doesn’t exceed $1,000 is an exception that comes into play only when the total value of the property stolen, aggregated across all the ...