New laws in VA will allow local charges for “porch pirates”

Two bipartisan bills signed into state law by Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin will soon make it possible for local prosecutors to charge “porch pirates” with a felony. Mail fraud is normally considered a federal crime which means federal prosecutors must file charges. The new law taking effect on July 1, would allow local prosecutors to charge mail thieves with a Class 6 felony which is punishable by up to five years in prison.