<?xml version="1.0"?>
<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>66086</law_id><section_number>63.2-523</section_number><catch_line>Unauthorized use of food stamps, electronic benefit transfer cards, and energy assistance prohibited; penalties</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>63.2-525</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="63.2">Welfare (Social Services)</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="II">Public Assistance</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="5">General Provisions</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>Whoever knowingly and with <span class="dictionary">intent</span> to defraud transfers, acquires, alters, traffics in or uses, or aids or abets another person in transferring, acquiring, altering, trafficking in, using, or possessing food stamps, electronic benefit transfer cards or other devices subject to Consumer Financial Protection Bureau regulations regarding Electronic Fund Transfers, 12 C.F.R. &#xA7;&#xA0;1005.1 et seq., or benefits from <span class="dictionary">energy assistance</span> programs, or possesses food coupons, authorization to purchase cards, electronic benefit transfer cards or other devices subject to Consumer Financial Protection Bureau regulations regarding Electronic Fund Transfers, 12 C.F.R. &#xA7;&#xA0;1005.1 et seq., or benefits from <span class="dictionary">energy assistance</span> programs in any manner not authorized by <span class="dictionary">law</span> is guilty of <span class="dictionary">larceny</span>.
		A violation of this section may be prosecuted either in the county or city where the <span class="dictionary">public assistance</span> was granted or in the county or city where the violation occurred.</p></section></text><history>1975, c. 388, &#xA7; 63.1-124.1; 1978, c. 731; 1984, c. 535; 1994, c. 249; 2002, c. 747; 2016, c. 501.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
