(a)  Any person who shall knowingly forge or cause to be forged one or more public assistance benefit check or authorization issued pursuant to chapter 6 of Title 40, when the total value of the check or authorization so forged or caused to be forged in any period of twelve (12) consecutive months exceeds five hundred dollars ($500), shall be guilty of a felony and upon conviction shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than five (5) years, or by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or both.

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Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 11-17-1.1

  • Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
  • person: may be construed to extend to and include co-partnerships and bodies corporate and politic. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-6

(b)  Any person who shall knowingly forge or cause to be forged any public assistance benefit check or authorization issued pursuant to chapter 6 of Title 40, when the value of the check or authorization forged or caused to be forged shall not exceed five hundred dollars ($500), shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than one year, or by fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500), or both.

(c)  All criminal actions for any violation of this section shall be prosecuted by the attorney general.

History of Section.
P.L. 1989, ch. 234, § 1.