{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/18.2-178.1.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/18.2-178.1.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/18.2-178.1.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/18.2-178.1.html"}],"law_id":64349,"edition_id":1,"section_id":64349,"structure_id":15873,"section_number":"18.2-178.1","catch_line":"Financial exploitation of vulnerable adults; penalty","history":"2013, cc. 419, 452; 2022, cc. 259, 642; 2023, c. 330.","full_text":"A\n\nAs used in this section, “vulnerable adult” means the same as that term is defined in § 18.2-369.B\n\nIt is unlawful for any person who knows or should know that another person is a vulnerable adult to, through the use of that other person’s impairment, take, obtain, or convert money or other thing of value belonging to that other person with the intent to permanently deprive him thereof. Any person who violates this section shall be deemed guilty of larceny.C\n\nVenue for the trial of an accused charged with a violation of this section shall be in any county or city in which (i) any act was performed in furtherance of the offense, (ii) the accused resided at the time of the offense, (iii) the vulnerable adult resides or resided at the time of the offense, or (iv) the vulnerable adult sustained a financial loss as a result of the offense.D\n\nThis section shall not apply to a transaction or disposition of money or other thing of value in which the accused acted for the benefit of the vulnerable adult or made a good faith effort to assist such person with the management of his money or other thing of value.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":234184,"text":"As used in this section, “vulnerable adult” means the same as that term is defined in § 18.2-369.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":234185,"text":"It is unlawful for any person who knows or should know that another person is a vulnerable adult to, through the use of that other person’s impairment, take, obtain, or convert money or other thing of value belonging to that other person with the intent to permanently deprive him thereof. Any person who violates this section shall be deemed guilty of larceny.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":234186,"text":"Venue for the trial of an accused charged with a violation of this section shall be in any county or city in which (i) any act was performed in furtherance of the offense, (ii) the accused resided at the time of the offense, (iii) the vulnerable adult resides or resided at the time of the offense, or (iv) the vulnerable adult sustained a financial loss as a result of the offense.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":234187,"text":"This section shall not apply to a transaction or disposition of money or other thing of value in which the accused acted for the benefit of the vulnerable adult or made a good faith effort to assist such person with the management of his money or other thing of value.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C"}},"ancestry":[{"id":15873,"edition_id":1,"name":"False Pretenses","identifier":"3","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13358,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 04:00:58","date_modified":"2026-06-26 04:00:58","permalink":{"id":166037,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15873,"identifier":"3","token":"18.2\/6\/3","url":"\/18.2\/6\/3\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13358,"edition_id":1,"name":"Crimes Involving Fraud","identifier":"6","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12972,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:42","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:42","permalink":{"id":165933,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13358,"identifier":"6","token":"18.2\/6","url":"\/18.2\/6\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12972,"edition_id":1,"name":"Crimes and Offenses Generally","identifier":"18.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:05","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:05","permalink":{"id":164139,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12972,"identifier":"18.2","token":"18.2","url":"\/18.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":87221,"structure_id":15873,"section_number":"18.2-178","catch_line":"Obtaining money or signature, etc., by false pretense","url":"\/18.2-178\/","token":"18.2\/6\/3\/18.2-178","metadata":false},{"id":64349,"structure_id":15873,"section_number":"18.2-178.1","catch_line":"Financial exploitation of vulnerable adults; penalty","url":"\/18.2-178.1\/","token":"18.2\/6\/3\/18.2-178.1","metadata":false},{"id":67231,"structure_id":15873,"section_number":"18.2-178.2","catch_line":"Financial exploitation by an agent; penalty","url":"\/18.2-178.2\/","token":"18.2\/6\/3\/18.2-178.2","metadata":false},{"id":73308,"structure_id":15873,"section_number":"18.2-179","catch_line":"Unlawful operation of coin box telephone, parking meter, vending machine, etc","url":"\/18.2-179\/","token":"18.2\/6\/3\/18.2-179","metadata":false},{"id":61371,"structure_id":15873,"section_number":"18.2-180","catch_line":"Manufacture, etc., of slugs, etc., for such unlawful use","url":"\/18.2-180\/","token":"18.2\/6\/3\/18.2-180","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":87221,"structure_id":15873,"section_number":"18.2-178","catch_line":"Obtaining money or signature, etc., by false pretense","url":"\/18.2-178\/","token":"18.2\/6\/3\/18.2-178","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":67231,"structure_id":15873,"section_number":"18.2-178.2","catch_line":"Financial exploitation by an agent; penalty","url":"\/18.2-178.2\/","token":"18.2\/6\/3\/18.2-178.2","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/18.2-178.1\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 2013. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapters 419<\/a> and 452<\/a> of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. It has been modified 2 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 2022, chapters 259<\/a> and 642<\/a>; in 2023, chapter 330<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":77143,"section_number":"19.2-215.1","catch_line":"Functions of a multi-jurisdiction grand jury","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-215.1\/"},{"id":59228,"section_number":"19.2-386.36","catch_line":"Seizure of moneys or other assets of value in connection with or derived from financial exploitation of vulnerable adults","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-386.36\/"},{"id":70554,"section_number":"19.2-386.5","catch_line":"Release of seized property","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-386.5\/"},{"id":74660,"section_number":"19.2-392.12","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2026) Sealing of offenses resulting in a deferred and dismissed disposition or conviction by petition","order_by":null,"url":"\/19.2-392.12\/"},{"id":82977,"section_number":"59.1-200","catch_line":"Prohibited practices","order_by":null,"url":"\/59.1-200\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":166043,"object_type":"law","relational_id":64349,"identifier":"18.2-178.1","token":"18.2\/6\/3\/18.2-178.1","url":"\/18.2-178.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/18.2-178.1\/","token":"18.2\/6\/3\/18.2-178.1","dublin_core":{"Title":"Financial exploitation of vulnerable adults; penalty","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 18.2-178.1","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> As used in this section, “vulnerable adult<\/span>” means the same as that term is defined in § 18.2-369<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> It is unlawful for any person who knows or should know that another person is a vulnerable adult<\/span> to, through the use of that other person’s impairment, take, obtain, or convert money or other thing of value belonging to that other person with the intent<\/span> to permanently deprive him thereof. Any person who violates this section shall be deemed guilty of larceny<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> Venue<\/span> for the trial<\/span> of an accused<\/span> charged with a violation of this section shall be in any county or city in which (i) any act was performed in furtherance of the offense<\/span>, (ii) the accused<\/span> resided at the time of the offense<\/span>, (iii) the vulnerable adult<\/span> resides or resided at the time of the offense<\/span>, or (iv) the vulnerable adult<\/span> sustained a financial loss as a result of the offense<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> This section shall not apply to a transaction or disposition<\/span> of money or other thing of value in which the accused<\/span> acted for the benefit of the vulnerable adult<\/span> or made a good faith effort to assist such person with the management of his money or other thing of value. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nFINANCIAL EXPLOITATION OF VULNERABLE ADULTS; PENALTY (\u00a7 18.2-178.1)\n\nA. As used in this section, “vulnerable adult” means the same as\nthat term is defined in § 18.2-369.\n\nB. It is unlawful for any person who knows or should know that another person is\na vulnerable adult to, through the use of that other person’s impairment,\ntake, obtain, or convert money or other thing of value belonging to that other\nperson with the intent to permanently deprive him thereof. Any person who\nviolates this section shall be deemed guilty of larceny.\n\nC. Venue for the trial of an accused charged with a violation of this section\nshall be in any county or city in which (i) any act was performed in furtherance\nof the offense, (ii) the accused resided at the time of the offense, (iii) the\nvulnerable adult resides or resided at the time of the offense, or (iv) the\nvulnerable adult sustained a financial loss as a result of the offense.\n\nD. This section shall not apply to a transaction or disposition of money or\nother thing of value in which the accused acted for the benefit of the\nvulnerable adult or made a good faith effort to assist such person with the\nmanagement of his money or other thing of value.\n\nHISTORY: 2013, cc. 419, 452; 2022, cc. 259, 642; 2023, c. 330.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}