Profits from Crime

V.S.A. tit. 3, ch. 7, subch. 3

in effect

3 V.S.A. § 171 Definition

171. Definition As used in this subchapter, “profits from crimes” means: (1) any property obtained through or income generated from the commission of a crime in which the defendant was convicted; (2) any property obtained by or income generated from the sale, conversion, or exchange of proceeds of a crime, including any gain realized by such sale, conversion, or exchange; (3) any property that the defendant obtained or any income generated as a result of having committed the crime, including any assets obtained through the use of unique knowledge acquired during the commission of or in preparation for the commission of the crime, as well as any property obtained or income generated from the sale, conversion, or exchange of such property and any gain realized by such sale, conversion, or exchange; and (4) any property that the defendant obtained or any income generated from the sale of tangible property the value of which is increased by the notoriety gained from the conviction of an offense by the person accused or convicted of the crime. Added 2025, No. 165 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. June 18, 2026.

3 V.S.A. § 172 Notice of profits from a crime

172. Notice of profits from a crime (a) Every person, firm, corporation, partnership, association, or other legal entity that knowingly contracts for, pays, or agrees to pay any profits from a crime to a person charged with or convicted of that crime shall give written notice to the Attorney General of the payment or obligation to pay as soon as is practicable after discovering that the payment is or will be a profit from a crime. (b) The Attorney General, upon receipt of notice of a contract, agreement to pay, or payment of profits of the crime shall send written notice of the existence of such profits to all known victims of the crime at their last known addresses. Added 2025, No. 165 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. June 18, 2026.

3 V.S.A. § 173 Actions to recover profits from a crime

173. Actions to recover profits from a crime (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, including any statute of limitations, any crime victim shall have the right to bring a civil action in a court of competent jurisdiction to recover money damages from a person convicted of that crime, or the legal representative of that convicted person, within three years after the discovery of any profits from the crime. Any damages awarded in such action shall be recoverable only up to the value of the profits of the crime. This section shall not limit the right of a victim to proceed or recover under another cause of action. (b) The Attorney General may, within three years after the discovery of any profits from the crime, bring a civil action on behalf of the State to enforce the subrogation rights described in 13 V.S.A. § 5357. (c) If the full value of any profits from the crime has not yet been claimed by either the victim of the crime or the victim’s representative, the Attorney General, or both, within three years after the discovery of such profits, then the State may bring a civil action in a court of competent jurisdiction to recover the costs incurred by providing the defendant with counsel, if any, and other costs reasonably incurred or to be incurred in the incarceration of the defendant. (d) Upon the filing of an action pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, the victim shall deliver a copy of the summons and complaint to the Attorney General. Upon receipt of a copy of the summons and complaint, the Attorney General shall send written notice of the alleged existence of profits from the crime to all other known victims at their last known addresses. (e) To avoid the wasting of assets identified in the complaint as newly discovered profits of the crime, the Attorney General, acting on behalf of the plaintiff and all other victims, shall have the right to apply for all remedies that are also otherwise available to the victim. Added 2025, No. 165 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. June 18, 2026.

Source: Vermont General Assembly (legislature.vermont.gov)URL: https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/chapter/03/007Fetched: 10/21/2026