Obtención fraudulenta de certificación empresarial en Virginia

Explicación Simple

Si alguien finge ser dueño de un negocio pequeño, de mujeres o de minorías para obtener beneficios, está cometiendo un delito. Esto incluye mentir o bloquear investigaciones sobre su negocio. Las personas que hacen esto pueden enfrentar serios problemas legales.

Es como cuando alguien se hace pasar por el capitán de un equipo para ganar un partido. Si el verdadero capitán se entera, ese impostor podría ser expulsado del juego.

Ejemplo Práctico

Imagina que Juan tiene una pequeña empresa de jardinería. Decide mentir sobre ser un negocio de minoría para conseguir un préstamo especial. Cuando las autoridades lo descubren, Juan enfrenta cargos legales por fraude y puede perder el préstamo y su negocio.

Penalidades

Si se comete fraude, se incurre en un delito menor de Clase 1, lo que puede incluir multas y prisión.

Texto Original del Estatuto (Inglés)

Va. Code § 18.2-213.1 - Obtaining certification as small, women-owned, or minority-owned business by deception; penalty. A. Except as otherwise provided by § 18.2-498.3 , a person shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor if, in the course of business, he: 1. Fraudulently obtains or retains certification as a small, women-owned, or minority-owned business; 2. Willfully makes a false statement knowing it to be untrue, whether by affidavit, report or other representation, to an official or employee of a public body for the purpose of influencing the certification or denial of certification of any business entity as a small, women-owned, or minority-owned business; 3. Willfully obstructs or impedes any agency official or employee who is investigating the qualifications of a business entity which has requested certification as a small, women-owned, or minority-owned business; or 4. Fraudulently obtains public moneys reserved for or allocated or available to small, women-owned, or minority-owned businesses. B. For the purposes of this section, "minority-owned business," and "small business" and "women-owned business" shall have the same meaning as those terms are defined in § 2.2-1604 . 1987, c. 689; 1989, c. 570; 2006, cc. 831 , 921 ; 2009, c. 869 ; 2013, c. 482 ; 2015, cc. 696 , 697 . Va. Code § 18.2-213.2 - Filing false lien or encumbrance against another. Any person who maliciously files a lien or encumbrance in a public record against the real or personal property of another knowing that such lien or encumbrance is false is guilty of a Class 5 felony. The court in its conviction order or in a separate order, shall direct the clerk of any jurisdiction in which a false lien or encumbrance has been filed to release from record such lien or encumbrance specifically descri