§ 609.2335 — Financial Exploitation of Vulnerable Adult
Plain-Language Summary
It is a crime to financially exploit a vulnerable adult. This includes misusing their money or property while in a position of trust, taking their assets through manipulation or force, or forcing them to work for someone else's profit. Penalties depend on the amount taken and can be as serious as those for theft.
609.2335 FINANCIAL EXPLOITATION OF VULNERABLE ADULT.
§
Subdivision 1.Crime.
Whoever does any of the following acts commits the crime of financial exploitation:
(1) in breach of a fiduciary obligation recognized elsewhere in law, including pertinent regulations, contractual obligations, documented consent by a competent person, or the obligations of a responsible party under section 144.6501 intentionally:
(i) fails to use the real or personal property or other financial resources of the vulnerable adult to provide food, clothing, shelter, health care, therapeutic conduct, or supervision for the vulnerable adult;
(ii) uses, manages, or takes either temporarily or permanently the real or personal property or other financial resources of the vulnerable adult, whether held in the name of the vulnerable adult or a third party, for the benefit of someone other than the vulnerable adult; or
(iii) deprives either temporarily or permanently a vulnerable adult of the vulnerable adult’s real or personal property or other financial resources, whether held in the name of the vulnerable adult or a third party, for the benefit of someone other than the vulnerable adult; or
(2) in the absence of legal authority:
(i) acquires possession or control of an interest in real or personal property or other financial resources of a vulnerable adult, whether held in the name of the vulnerable adult or a third party, through the use of undue influence, harassment, or duress;
(ii) forces, compels, coerces, or entices a vulnerable adult against the vulnerable adult’s will to perform services for the profit or advantage of another; or
(iii) establishes a relationship with a fiduciary obligation to a vulnerable adult by use of undue influence, harassment, duress, force, compulsion, coercion, or other enticement. §
Subd. 2.Defenses.
(a) Nothing in this section requires a facility or caregiver to provide financial management or supervise financial management for a vulnerable adult except as otherwise required by law.
(b) If the actor knew or had reason to know that the vulnerable adult lacked capacity to consent, consent is not a defense to a violation of this section. §
Subd. 3.Criminal penalties.
A person who violates subdivision 1, clause (1) or (2), item (i), may be sentenced as provided in section 609.52, subdivision 3. A person who violates subdivision 1, clause (2), item (ii) or (iii), may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than 364 days or to payment of a fine of not more than $3,000, or both. §
Subd. 4.Aggregation.
In any prosecution under this section, the value of the money or property or services received by the defendant within any six-month period may be aggregated and the defendant charged accordingly in applying the provisions of subdivision 3; provided that when two or more offenses are committed by the same person in two or more counties, the accused may be prosecuted in any county in which one of the offenses was committed for all of the offenses aggregated under this subdivision. §
Subd. 5.Venue.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in section 627.01, an offense committed under this section may be prosecuted in: (1) the county where any part of the offense occurred; or (2) the county of residence of the victim or one of the victims.
History:
1995 c 229 art 2 s 5; 2009 c 119 s 8; 2013 c 5 s 1,2; 2023 c 52 art 6 s 16
History: History: 1995 c 229 art 2 s 5; 2009 c 119 s 8; 2013 c 5 s 1,2; 2023 c 52 art 6 s 16