A. Failing to disclose facts or change of circumstances to obtain public assistance consists of a person knowingly failing to disclose a material fact known to be necessary to determine eligibility for public assistance or knowingly failing to disclose a change in circumstances for the purpose of obtaining or continuing to receive public assistance to which the person is not entitled or in amounts greater than that to which the person is entitled.

Attorney's Note

Under the New Mexico Statutes, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:
ClassPrisonFine
second degree felonyup to 9 yearsup to $10,000
third degree felonyup to 3 yearsup to $5,000
fourth degree felonyup to 18 monthsup to $5,000
petty misdemeanorup to 6 monthsup to $500
For details, see N.M. Stat. Ann. § 31-18-15 and N.M. Stat. Ann. § 31-19-1

Ask a criminal law question, get an answer ASAP!
Click here to chat with a criminal defense lawyer and protect your rights.

B. Whoever commits failing to disclose facts or change of circumstances to obtain public assistance when the value of the assistance wrongfully received is two hundred fifty dollars ($250) or less in any twelve consecutive months is guilty of a petty misdemeanor.

C. Whoever commits failing to disclose facts or change of circumstances to obtain public assistance when the value of the assistance wrongfully received is more than two hundred fifty dollars ($250) but not more than five hundred dollars ($500) in any twelve consecutive months is guilty of a misdemeanor.

D. Whoever commits failing to disclose facts or change of circumstances to obtain public assistance when the value of the assistance wrongfully received is more than five hundred dollars ($500) but not more than two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) in any twelve consecutive months is guilty of a fourth degree felony.

E. Whoever commits failing to disclose facts or change of circumstances to obtain public assistance when the value of the assistance wrongfully received is more than two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) but not more than twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) in any twelve consecutive months is guilty of a third degree felony.

F. Whoever commits failing to disclose facts or change of circumstances to obtain public assistance when the value of the assistance wrongfully received exceeds twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) in any twelve consecutive months is guilty of a second degree felony.