{"jurisdiction": "us-ny", "code": "penal", "section": "195.20", "citation": "Penal Law § 195.20", "heading": "Defrauding the government", "text": ["§ 195.20 Defrauding the government.", "A person is guilty of defrauding the government when, being a public servant or party officer, he or she:", "(a) engages in a scheme constituting a systematic ongoing course of conduct with intent to:", "(i) defraud the state or a political subdivision of the state or a governmental instrumentality within the state or to obtain property, services or other resources from the state or a political subdivision of the state or a governmental instrumentality within the state by false or fraudulent pretenses, representations or promises; or", "(ii) defraud the state or a political subdivision of the state or a governmental instrumentality within the state by making use of property, services or resources of the state, political subdivision of the state or a governmental instrumentality within the state for private business purposes or other compensated non-governmental purposes; and", "(b) so obtains property, services or other resources with a value in excess of one thousand dollars from such state, political subdivision or governmental instrumentality.", "Defrauding the government is a class E felony."], "official_source": "https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/PEN/195.20", "from_official_api": true, "plain_english": "A **public servant or party officer** defrauds the government by:\n- **(a)** engaging in a **scheme constituting a systematic ongoing course of conduct** with intent to:\n- **(i)** **defraud** the state, a political subdivision, or a governmental instrumentality within the state, or obtain its property, services, or other resources by **false or fraudulent pretenses, representations, or promises**; or\n- **(ii)** defraud it by using its property, services, or resources for **private business purposes or other compensated non-governmental purposes**; and\n- **(b)** so obtaining property, services, or other resources worth **more than $1,000** from it. ★\nThe offense is a **class E felony**.", "in_force_on": "2026-05-31", "retrieved": "2026-09-27", "url": "https://elyphived.com/us-ny/penal/195.20", "publisher": "Elyphived LLC"}