1. Criminal penalties. A person that intentionally or knowingly violates this chapter, or a rule adopted or order issued under this chapter, except section 16504 or the notice filing requirements of section 16302 or 16405, or that intentionally or knowingly violates section 16505 knowing the statement made to be false or misleading in a material respect, upon conviction, commits a Class C crime. In any prosecution under this section, the State need not prove that the defendant knew that any instrument involved was a security, that any instrument was required to be registered under section 16301 or that any license was required under sections 16401 to 16404. An individual convicted of violating a rule or order under this chapter may be fined, but may not be imprisoned, if the individual did not have knowledge of the rule or order.

[PL 2013, c. 39, §2 (AMD).]

Attorney's Note

Under the Maine Revised Statutes, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:
ClassPrisonFine
Class C crimeup to 5 yearsup to $5,000
For details, see Me. Rev. Stat. Title 17-A § 1604

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Terms Used In Maine Revised Statutes Title 32 Sec. 16508

  • Administrator: means the Securities Administrator under section 16601. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 32 Sec. 16102
  • Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Filing: means the receipt under this chapter of a record by the administrator or a designee of the administrator. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 32 Sec. 16102
  • Person: means an individual; corporation; business trust; estate; trust; partnership; limited liability company; association; joint venture; government; governmental subdivision, agency or instrumentality; public corporation; or any other legal or commercial entity. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 32 Sec. 16102
  • Security: means a note; stock; treasury stock; security future; bond; debenture; evidence of indebtedness; certificate of interest or participation in a profit-sharing agreement; collateral trust certificate; preorganization certificate or subscription; transferable share; investment contract; investment in a viatical or life settlement contract; voting trust certificate; certificate of deposit for a security; fractional undivided interest in oil, gas or other mineral rights; documents of title to or certificates of interest or participation in an oil, gas or other mineral title or lease or in payments out of production under any title, lease, right or royalty; put, call, straddle, option or privilege on a security, certificate of deposit or group or index of securities, including an interest therein or based on the value thereof; put, call, straddle, option or privilege entered into on a national securities exchange relating to foreign currency; or, in general, an interest or instrument commonly known as a "security"; or a certificate of interest or participation in, temporary or interim certificate for, receipt for, guarantee of or warrant or right to subscribe to or purchase any of the foregoing. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 32 Sec. 16102
  • State: means a state of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands or any territory or insular possession subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 32 Sec. 16102
  • Venue: The geographical location in which a case is tried.
2. Referral to Attorney General. The administrator may refer such evidence as is available concerning violations of this chapter or any rule or order issued under this chapter to the Attorney General, who may, with or without such a reference from the administrator, institute the appropriate criminal proceedings under this chapter. The Attorney General may request assistance from the administrator or employees of the administrator.

[PL 2005, c. 65, Pt. A, §2 (NEW).]

3. No limitation on other criminal enforcement. This chapter does not limit the power of this State to punish a person for conduct that constitutes a crime under other laws of this State.

[PL 2005, c. 65, Pt. A, §2 (NEW).]

4. Venue. When a person pursuant to one scheme or course of conduct, whether upon the same person or several persons, engages in fraudulent or other prohibited practices, engages in unlawful transactions of business or other unlawful conduct or engages in unlawful offers to sell or purchase or unlawful sales or purchases under this chapter, the State may opt for a single Class C count, and, in that circumstance, prosecution may be brought in any venue in which one or more of the unlawful acts were committed.

[PL 2005, c. 65, Pt. A, §2 (NEW).]

SECTION HISTORY

PL 2005, c. 65, §A2 (NEW). PL 2013, c. 39, §2 (AMD).