Dishonesty is not always a crime, but it can definitely lead to serious legal trouble, especially if you have made false statements to a government agency in Oklahoma.
This can include lying on a form in order to receive a government benefit or submitting any other form containing false information.
If you’ve been caught doing this, the state may bring a charge of making a false, fictitious, or fraudulent claim. If this happens, contact an Okmulgee fraud defense attorney immediately.
About False Statements to a Government Agency in Oklahoma
If you make false statements to a government agency in Oklahoma on any type of official form, you may be subjecting yourself to the possibility of being being criminally charged by the state.
Oklahoma defines “false” documents as those that have been wholly or partly fabricated or materially altered.
Oklahoma further defines “fictitious” as “imaginatively created past facts.”
“Fraudulent” means a false suggestion of facts or the suppression of the truth brought about through trickery, false appearance, or through any other unfair way in order to cheat.
Therefore, any information that meets any of these three definitions can subject someone to a criminal charge of making false statements to a government agency in Oklahoma.
When a False, Fictitious, or Fraudulent Statement is a Crime
Making a false, fictitious, or fraudulent claim to the state is generally a crime under two circumstances.
When a person, firm, or corporation, association, or agency attempts to receive money from the state by making a false, fictitious, or fraudulent claim to the state.
Doing so can result in a felony conviction and two years in prison, along with $10,000 in fines.
Similarly, anyone who applies for a job with the state government by making a materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation on an employment application can also face a criminal charge.
If a prosecutor proves that you knew the information was false, fictitious, or fraudulent, you may be convicted of a misdemeanor crime and can face up to one year in jail and up to $1,000 in fines.
Low-cost Consultation: Okmulgee Fraud Defense Lawyer
A conviction of false statements to a government agency in Oklahoma can lead to jail time and fines.
If you or someone you know is faced with this charge, call 918-756-9600 for a initial strategy session with an experienced attorney at Wirth Law Office – Okmulgee.
Or, enter your legal question or concern in the form at the top right of this page, and one of our Okmulgee criminal defense attorneys will contact you.