{"jurisdiction": "us-ny", "code": "penal", "section": "158.35", "citation": "Penal Law § 158.35", "heading": "Criminal use of a public benefit card in the first degree", "text": ["§ 158.35 Criminal use of a public benefit card in the first degree.", "A person is guilty of criminal use of a public benefit card in the first degree when he or she, pursuant to an act or a series of acts, knowingly (i) obtains three or more public benefit cards from another or others in exchange for a benefit, or (ii) transfers or delivers three or more public benefit cards to another or others in exchange for money or a controlled substance as defined in subdivision five of section 220.00 of this chapter.", "Criminal use of a public benefit card in the first degree is a class E felony."], "official_source": "https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/PEN/158.35", "from_official_api": true, "plain_english": "A person commits first-degree criminal use of public benefit cards by knowingly, in 1 act or a series:\n- **(i)** **obtaining 3 or more public benefit cards from others in exchange for a benefit**; or\n- **(ii)** **transferring or delivering 3 or more cards to others for money or a controlled substance**. ★\nIt is a **class E felony**.", "in_force_on": "2026-05-31", "retrieved": "2026-09-27", "url": "https://elyphived.com/us-ny/penal/158.35", "publisher": "Elyphived LLC"}