2C:21-27 Degrees of offense; penalties; nonmerger.

5. a. The offense defined in subsections a. b. and c. of section 3 of P.L.1994, c.121 (C.2C:21-25) constitutes a crime of the first degree if the amount involved is $500,000.00 or more. If the amount involved is at least $75,000.00 but less than $500,000.00 the offense constitutes a crime of the second degree; otherwise, the offense constitutes a crime of the third degree. The offense defined in subsection e. of section 3 of P.L.1994, c.121 (C.2C:21-25) constitutes a crime of the third degree. Notwithstanding the provisions of N.J.S.2C:43-3, the court may also impose a fine up to $500,000.00. The amount involved in a prosecution for violation of this section shall be determined by the trier of fact. Amounts involved in transactions conducted pursuant to one scheme or course of conduct may be aggregated in determining the degree of the offense. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1) of subsection a. of N.J.S.2C:43-6, a person convicted of a crime of the first degree pursuant to the provisions of this subsection shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment that shall include the imposition of a minimum term which shall be fixed at, or between, one-third and one-half of the sentence imposed, during which time the defendant shall not be eligible for parole.

b. In addition to any other dispositions authorized by this Title, upon conviction of a violation of this section, the court may sentence the defendant to pay an amount as calculated pursuant to subsection a. of section 6 of P.L.1994, c.121 (C.2C:21-28).

c. Notwithstanding N.J.S.2C:1-8 or any other provision of law, a conviction of an offense defined in this section shall not merge with the conviction of any other offense constituting the criminal activity involved or from which the property was derived, and a conviction of any offense constituting the criminal activity involved or from which the property was derived shall not merge with a conviction of an offense defined in section 3 of P.L.1994, c.121 (C.2C:21-25), and the sentence imposed upon a conviction of any offense defined in section 3 of P.L.1994, c.121 (C.2C:21-25) shall be ordered to be served consecutively to that imposed for a conviction of any offense constituting the criminal activity involved or from which the property was derived. Nothing in P.L.1994, c.121 (C.2C:21-23 et seq.) shall be construed in any way to preclude or limit a prosecution or conviction for any other offense defined in this Title or any other criminal law of this State.

L.1994,c.121,s.5; amended 1999, c.25, s.4; 2002, c.26, s.15.