C.G.S. § 53a-128g — Receipt of Money, Goods, or Services Obtained by Illegal Use of a Payment Card

This law targets the receiving side of payment-card fraud. If someone uses a stolen/cloned/unauthorized card to buy things, the person who later receives those things (or the money/services) knowing they came from that illegal card use can be charged under § 53a-128g. The State often proves knowledge through circumstances—rock-bottom prices, bulk brand-new goods, rushed cash sales, or “don’t ask questions” deals.

To convict, prosecutors generally have to show:

1. Money, goods, or services were obtained by illegal use of a payment card;
2. You received that money, goods, or services; and
3. You knew they were obtained through illegal payment-card use (knowledge can be shown by circumstantial evidence—think suspicious price, condition, or story).

• Payment card: credit or debit card.
• Issuer: bank or company that issues the card.
• Cardholder: person authorized by the issuer to use the card.
• Illegal use: using a card or card number without authorization (stolen, cloned, forged, or obtained by fraud).

§ 53a-128g is punished under § 53a-128i using value-based tiers (the higher the total value received, the more serious the charge). Exposure can range from a misdemeanor up to a felony, along with restitution and probation. Prior records and related counts can increase risk.

• Store surveillance, POS logs, chargeback records, and shipping labels.
• Phone/laptop messages showing quick resale, bulk orders, or price negotiations.
• Marketplace postings (Facebook, OfferUp, Telegram, Discord) and cash-app/crypto trails.
• New-in-box goods with tags/receipts that don’t match your story or timeline.
• Statements made in “consensual” interviews.

• No knowledge: You didn’t know (and the facts don’t reasonably suggest) the items were tied to card fraud.
• Not from a payment card crime: The property wasn’t connected to illegal card use at all.
• Value disputes: We challenge valuation to reduce penalty tiers.
• Identification & possession: Who actually received/possessed the goods? Is it traceable to you?
• Suppression: We attack unlawful searches, overbroad warrants, and unreliable digital evidence.
• Good-faith purchase: Ordinary, market-price purchase with normal documentation cuts against knowledge.

1. The “great deal” sneakers
   A friend offers you ten pairs of brand-new, high-end sneakers at half price, still in shrink-wrap, “no questions.” You pay cash and flip them online the same day. Later, the store reverses chargebacks tied to those SKUs. Prosecutors say the price/condition/story show you knew they came from card fraud. That’s § 53a-128g risk.
2. Consoles and gift cards
   You accept three sealed game consoles and a stack of high-value gift cards as repayment for a debt. No receipts, urgent resale. Card networks flag the gift cards as bought on a stolen card hours earlier. Receiving them with those red flags can trigger § 53a-128g.
3. Package drop “helper”
   You let someone ship “inventory” to your apartment. You sign for boxes of new electronics and hand them off in a parking lot for $200 per drop. Retailers later show the orders were placed with cloned card numbers. Even if you never swiped a card, receiving the goods under those circumstances fits § 53a-128g.
4. Lawful boundary: normal second-hand buy
   You buy a used iPhone at a typical market price. Seller shows ID, provides a matching box and bill of sale, and the device passes activation/Find My checks. Nothing suggests card fraud. On these facts, prosecutors would struggle to prove you knew it came from illegal payment-card use.

• § 53a-128d — Illegal Use of a Payment Card
• § 53a-128e — Illegal Furnishing of Money, Goods, or Services on a Payment Card
• § 53a-128c — Payment Card Theft/Transfer/Forgery
• §§ 53a-129a–129d — Identity Theft (by amount/age tiers)
• § 53a-139 — Forgery in the Second Degree
• § 53a-48 — Conspiracy

• Do not make statements or “explain” anything to detectives.
• Do not consent to searches of phones, laptops, vehicles, or storage.
• Preserve receipts, chats, shipping labels, IMEIs/serials, and marketplace records.
• Stop all resale activity immediately and get counsel to contact the issuer/retailer if needed.

Charged or under investigation for § 53a-128g anywhere in Connecticut? Call Allan F. Friedman Criminal Lawyer at (203) 357-5555 or use our online contact page for a fast, confidential consultation. I defend payment-card and financial-crime cases statewide and step in early to control surrender, protect your record, and challenge the evidence before it snowballs. For more information please review our criminal defense page.