Subdivision 1. Criminal penalties. (a) An individual has committed fraud and is guilty of theft and must be sentenced under section 609.52 if the individual obtains, or attempts to obtain, or aids or abets any other individual to obtain, by an intentional false statement or representation, by intentional concealment of a material fact, or by impersonation or other fraudulent means, unemployment benefits that the individual is not entitled to under this chapter, or under federal law.

(b) Any employer or any officer or agent of an employer or any other individual has committed fraud and is guilty of a crime, if in order to avoid or reduce any payment required from an employer under this chapter or section 116L.20, or to prevent or reduce the payment of unemployment benefits to an applicant:

(1) makes a false statement or representation knowing it to be false;

(2) knowingly fails to disclose a material fact, including notification required under section 268.051, subdivision 4; or

(3) knowingly advises or assists an employer in violating clause (1) or (2).

The individual is guilty of a gross misdemeanor if the underpayment is $500 or less. The individual is guilty of a felony if the underpayment exceeds $500.

Subd. 2. [Renumbered 268.183]

History: Ex1936 c 2 s 16; 1941 c 554 s 15; 1951 c 442 s 11; 1953 c 97 s 18; 1969 c 567 s 3; 1973 c 254 s 3; 1975 c 336 s 24; 1977 c 4 s 10; 1977 c 430 s 25 subd 1; 1979 c 181 s 17,18; 1Sp1982 c 1 s 37-40; 1983 c 216 art 1 s 42,87; 1983 c 372 s 45,46; 1985 c 248 s 70; 1Sp1985 c 14 art 9 s 75; 1986 c 444; 1987 c 385 s 40-45; 1988 c 712 s 3; 1989 c 209 art 2 s 1; 1990 c 566 s 8; 1992 c 484 s 15; 1994 c 483 s 1; 1995 c 54 s 21-24; 1996 c 417 s 29,31; 1997 c 66 s 74,79; 1998 c 265 s 37; 1999 c 107 s 56,66; 2000 c 343 s 4; 2004 c 183 s 82; 2004 c 206 s 52; 2005 c 112 art 2 s 39; 2007 c 128 art 2 s 15; art 6 s 90; 2016 c 189 art 11 s 5; 2017 c 35 art 3 s 19,24