Mail theft

A. As used in this Section, the following terms shall have the following meanings: (1) "Mail" means any letter, postal card, parcel, envelope, package, bag, or any other sealed article addressed to another, along with its contents. (2) "Mail depository" means a mail box, letter box, or mail receptacle of a postal service, an office of a postal service, or a vehicle of a postal service. (3) "Postal service" means the United States Postal Service or its contractors, or any commercial courier that delivers mail. B. Any of the following acts shall constitute mail theft: (1) Removing mail from a mail depository or taking mail from a mail carrier with a postal service with an intent to steal. (2) Obtaining custody of mail by fraud or deception with an intent to steal. (3) Selling, receiving, possessing, transferring, buying, or concealing mail obtained by acts described in Paragraph (1) or (2) of this Subsection while knowing or having reason to know that the mail was obtained illegally. C. (1) Whoever violates the provisions of this Section shall be imprisoned, with or without hard labor, for not more than five years or fined not more than five thousand dollars, or both. (2) Upon a second or subsequent conviction or violation of the provisions of this Section, the offender shall be imprisoned, with or without hard labor, for not less than one year nor more than ten years and may, in addition, be fined not more than twenty thousand dollars. D. In addition to the penalties provided in Subsection C of this Section, a person convicted under this Section shall be ordered to make full restitution to the victim and any other person who has suffered a financial loss as a result of the offense in accordance with Code of Criminal Procedure Article 883.2. E. An offense committed under this Section may be prosecuted in any of the following parishes: (1) The parish where the offense occurred. (2) The parish of residence or place of business of the direct or indirect victim.