False claim (a) A person shall not, in any matter within the jurisdiction of a supervisory union school district or of any commission, board, department, or agency of the State or a county or municipality, with intent to defraud, falsify, conceal, or cover up by any trick, scheme, or device a material fact, or with intent to defraud make any false, fictitious, or fraudulent claim or representation as to a material fact, or with intent to defraud make or use any writing or document knowing the same to contain any false, fictitious, or fraudulent claim or entry as to a material fact. (b) A person who violates this section shall, if the prohibited act results in no loss to a governmental entity or benefit to the person or results in a loss to a governmental entity or benefit to the person of less than $500.00 in value, be imprisoned not more than two years or fined not more than $5,000.00, or both. A person who violates this section shall, if the prohibited act results in a loss to any governmental entity or a benefit to the person of $500.00 or more in value, whether by a single act or by a common scheme or course of conduct involving one or more transactions, be imprisoned to any governmental entity or a benefit to the person of $500.00 or more in value, whether by a single act or by a common scheme or course of conduct involving one or more transactions, be imprisoned not more than five years or fined not more than $10,000.00, or both. (c) A person who commits an act punishable under 33 V.S.A. § 141(a) or (b) may not be prosecuted under this section. (Added 1987, No. 48, § 6; amended 2023, No. 46, § 11, eff. June 5, 2023.)
Vermont Legal Code