33-1-1505. Theft of viatical settlement proceeds. (1) A person commits the offense of theft of viatical settlement proceeds when the person purposely or knowingly obtains or exerts unauthorized control over money, funds, premiums, credits, or other property of a viatical settlement provider, viatical settlement broker, insurer, insured, policy owner, or any other person engaged in the business of viatical settlements.

Terms Used In Montana Code 33-1-1505

  • Knowingly: means only a knowledge that the facts exist which bring the act or omission within the provisions of this code. See Montana Code 1-1-204
  • Person: includes a corporation or other entity as well as a natural person. See Montana Code 1-1-201
  • Property: means real and personal property. See Montana Code 1-1-205
  • Settlement: Parties to a lawsuit resolve their difference without having a trial. Settlements often involve the payment of compensation by one party in satisfaction of the other party's claims.
  • State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories. See Montana Code 1-1-201

(2)For purposes of this section, “viatical settlement provider” and “viatical settlement broker” have the meanings provided in 33-20-1302.

(3)(a) A person convicted of theft of viatical settlement proceeds involving property with a value not exceeding $1,500 shall be fined not more than $1,500 or be imprisoned in the county detention center for not more than 6 months, or both.

(b)A person convicted of the offense of theft of viatical settlement proceeds involving property with a value exceeding $1,500 shall be fined an amount not to exceed $50,000 or be imprisoned in a state prison for a term not to exceed 10 years, or both.

(c)A person convicted of the offense of theft of viatical settlement proceeds involving a common scheme as defined in 45-2-101 shall be fined an amount not to exceed $50,000 or be imprisoned in a state prison for a term not to exceed 10 years, or both.