A person commits the criminal offense of receiving stolen property if the person buys or receives any property knowing that it has been stolen. Laws regarding receiving stolen property vary from state to state and some states also make it a crime to receive property obtained by extortion, or to conceal, sell, withhold, or aid in concealing, selling, or withholding any property from the owner, knowing the property was stolen or obtained by extortion, for example.

The criminal offense of receiving stolen property may be charged as a misdemeanor or as a felony in many states (a wobbler offense)—usually depending on the value of the stolen property.

Laws regarding receiving stolen property are generally located in a state’s statutes—often in the penal or criminal code.

In Florida, the offense of dealing in stolen property is codified under Florida Statutes § 812.019. A person commits the offense if they traffic in, or endeavor to traffic in, property that they know or should know was stolen. The term 'traffic' means to sell, transfer, distribute, dispense, or otherwise dispose of property, or to buy, receive, possess, or obtain control of property with the intent to sell, transfer, distribute, dispense, or otherwise dispose of it. This offense is generally charged as a felony in the state of Florida. The degree of the felony may depend on the value of the property and other circumstances surrounding the offense. If the property's value is $300 or more, the crime is a second-degree felony, while if the value is less than $300, it is a third-degree felony. Additionally, Florida law also addresses the issue of property obtained by extortion, as outlined in Florida Statutes § 812.012(3)(c), which defines 'stolen property' to include property obtained by extortion. The penalties for dealing in stolen property can be severe and may include imprisonment, fines, and restitution to the victim.