Is it illegal for you to steal someone's money when YOU gave it to them?

Answer 1

U.S. common law courts (e.g., state courts responsible for prosecuting most intra-state criminal acts) in all 50 states have long recognized a certain limited "lingering interest" of the transferor in gratuitous transfers of personal property and commercial real property (residential real property is a different, and more complicated matter). In most states, the lingering interest allows the transferor to recover part, or all, of a gratuitous transfer from the transferee.

This is usually restricted in several ways, especially as to time. If the person to whom you gave the money has had it for a long time, and the money has been intermingled in the finances of that person so that it's no longer clear exactly what money of his was received from you, a court will probably not recognize your lingering interest. Personal property, so long as it's still in the possession of the transferee, is easier to identify, and all states will grant an implied easement for the transferor to enter the property of the transferee for the purpose of recovering the item(s).

This legal doctrine is from where we get the phrase "Indian giving". Good luck getting your money back! I recommend talking to a lawyer before attempting to recover your property. He will be able to answer more of your questions. (Be sure to ask him if your state is a "castle doctrine" state.)