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New York · Through 2026-09-11

N.Y. Penal Law § 190.65: Scheme to defraud in the first degree

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Where this section sits in the code
  1. Penal Law
  2. Part 3. Specific Offenses
  3. Title K. Offenses Involving Fraud
  4. Article 190. Other Frauds

§ 190.65 Scheme to defraud in the first degree.

1. A person is guilty of a scheme to defraud in the first degree when

he or she: (a) engages in a scheme constituting a systematic ongoing

course of conduct with intent to defraud ten or more persons or to

obtain property from ten or more persons by false or fraudulent

pretenses, representations or promises, and so obtains property from one

or more of such persons; or (b) engages in a scheme constituting a

systematic ongoing course of conduct with intent to defraud more than

one person or to obtain property from more than one person by false or

fraudulent pretenses, representations or promises, and so obtains

property with a value in excess of one thousand dollars from one or more

such persons; or (c) engages in a scheme constituting a systematic

ongoing course of conduct with intent to defraud more than one person,

more than one of whom is a vulnerable elderly person as defined in

subdivision three of section 260.31 of this chapter or to obtain

property from more than one person, more than one of whom is a

vulnerable elderly person as defined in subdivision three of section

260.31 of this chapter, by false or fraudulent pretenses,

representations or promises, and so obtains property from one or more

such persons; or (d) engages in a systematic ongoing course of conduct,

with intent to defraud more than one person by false or fraudulent

pretenses, representations or promises, by disposing of solid waste as

defined in section 27-0701 of the environmental conservation law on such

persons' property, and so damages the property of one or more of such

persons in an amount in excess of one thousand dollars.

2. In any prosecution under this section, it shall be necessary to

prove the identity of at least one person from whom the defendant so

obtained property, but it shall not be necessary to prove the identity

of any other intended victim, provided that in any prosecution under

paragraph (c) of subdivision one of this section, it shall be necessary

to prove the identity of at least one such vulnerable elderly person as

defined in subdivision three of section 260.31 of this chapter.

3. In any prosecution under paragraph (d) of subdivision one of this

section, it shall be necessary to prove the identity of at least one

person on whose property the defendant fraudulently disposed of solid

waste pursuant to such paragraph (d), but it shall not be necessary to

prove the identity of any other victim or intended victim.

Scheme to defraud in the first degree is a class E felony.

Collected 2026-09-14T19:32:45Z. Source file · JSON

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