The local paper today has a story about an arrest of persons “on charges of receiving or possessing goods represented as stolen and conspiracy.” It continues that the people purchased cigarettes and cigars, “while under the assumption the property was stolen.” The police would not say whether the property was in fact stolen.
I know laws may differ from U.S. state to state, but is it generally a violation to buy something someone says is stolen, whether the property is actually stolen or not?
If I legally purchase a Playstation 2 at WalMart, and then resell it to someone, saying I’m giving them a deal because I stole it, is the buyer breaking the law when he buys it from me? Am I breaking the law when I sell it to him after saying the words, “I stole it”?