Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree

New York Penal Law § 190.65

Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree is a Class E Felony.  The possible sentence is up to four years in prison.

The crime of Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree has three variations.  The prosecution must prove only one of the following three variations:  (a) defrauding ten or more persons; or (b) defrauding more than one person and obtaining money or property worth more than $1,000; or (c) defrauding one or more vulnerable elderly persons.

(a) Ten or More Persons.  This sub-section requires proof beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant engaged in a systematic, ongoing course of conduct with an intent to defraud ten or more persons or to obtain money or property from one or more persons by false or fraudulent pretenses, representations, or promises.  The prosecution must prove that the defendant actually obtained money or property from one or more of those persons.  The identity of at least one of the victims must be proved, but it is not necessary to identify all the victims.

(b) One or More Persons and More than $1,000.   This sub-section requires proof beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant engaged in a systematic, ongoing course of conduct with an intent to defraud more than one person or to obtain money or property from more than one person by false or fraudulent pretenses, representations, or promises.  The prosecution must prove that the defendant actually obtained money or property with a value of more than $1,000 from one or more of those persons.  The identity of at least one of the victims must be proved, but it is not necessary to identify all the victims.

(c) Vulnerable Elderly Persons.  This sub-section requires proof beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant engaged in a systematic, ongoing course of conduct with an intent to defraud more than one person or to obtain money or property from more than one person by false or fraudulent pretenses, representations, or promises.  The prosecution must prove that more than one of the persons was a vulnerable elderly person  and that the defendant actually obtained money or property from one or more vulnerable elderly persons by means of fraud or fraudulent pretenses, representations, or promises.  The identity of at least one vulnerable elderly person from whom the defendant obtained money or property must be proved, but it is not necessary to identify all the victims.

"Vulnerable Elderly Person" means a person 60 years of age or older who is suffering from a disease or infirmity associated with advanced age and manifested by demonstrable physical, mental, or emotional dysfunction to the extent that the person is incapable of adequately providing for his or her own health or personal care.

"Intent" means a conscious objective or purpose.  Thus, a person acts with an intent to defraud or an intent to obtain money or property by false or fraudulent pretenses, representations, or promises, when that person's conscious objective or purpose is to do so.

Full Text of New York Penal Law § 190.65

"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  260.30  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 260.30   of   this   chapter,   by   false   or   fraudulent  pretenses, representations or promises, and so obtains property from  one  or  more such persons."

"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 260.30 of this chapter."

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

John Howley, Esq.
The Howley Law Firm P.C.
​350 Fifth Avenue, 59th Floor
New York, New York 10118
(212) 601-2728