18.2-118 - Fraudulent conversion or removal of leased personal property.
§ 18.2-118. Fraudulent conversion or removal of leased personal property.
(a) Whenever any person is in possession or control of any personal property,by virtue of or subject to a written lease of such property, except propertydescribed in § 18.2-117, and such person so in possession or control shall,with intent to defraud, sell, secrete, or destroy the property, or dispose ofthe property for his own use, or fraudulently remove the same from theCommonwealth without the written consent of the lessor thereof, or fail toreturn such property to the lessor thereof within ten days after expirationof the lease or rental period for such property stated in such written lease,he shall be deemed guilty of the larceny thereof.
(b) The fact that such person signs the lease or rental agreement with a nameother than his own, or fails to return such property to the lessor thereofwithin ten days after the giving of written notice to such person that thelease or rental period for such property has expired, shall be prima facieevidence of intent to defraud. For purposes of this section, notice mailed bycertified mail and addressed to such person at the address of the lesseestated in the lease, shall be sufficient giving of written notice under thissection.
(c) The venue of prosecution under this section shall be the county or cityin which such property was leased or in which such accused person last had alegal residence.
(Code 1950, § 18.1-117.1; 1966, c. 474; 1975, cc. 14, 15; 1978, c. 675.)