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 New Mexico, the offense of receiving stolen property is covered under the New Mexico Statutes Annotated (NMSA) 1978, Section 30-16-11. A person commits the crime of receiving stolen property when they buy, receive, retain, or dispose of property with the knowledge or belief that it has been stolen, unless the property is received, retained, or disposed with the intent to restore it to the owner. The severity of the charge, whether misdemeanor or felony, typically depends on the value of the property. If the value of the stolen property is $250 or less, it is a misdemeanor. If the value is more than $250 but not more than $500, it is a petty misdemeanor. For property valued over $500 but not more than $2,500, it is a fourth-degree felony, and for property valued over $2,500, it is a third-degree felony. New Mexico law also considers it a crime to receive property obtained by extortion. The specific penalties and charges can vary based on the circumstances of the case and the value of the property involved.