45-7-210. False claim to public agency. - Montana Statutes

     45-7-210. False claim to public agency. (1) A person commits an offense under this section if the person knowingly presents for allowance, for payment, or for the purpose of concealing, avoiding, or decreasing an obligation to pay a false or fraudulent claim, bill, account, voucher, or writing to a public agency, public servant, or contractor authorized to allow or pay valid claims presented to a public agency.
     (2) (a) Except as provided in subsection (2)(b), a person convicted of an offense under this section shall be fined not to exceed $1,500 or imprisoned in the county jail for a term not to exceed 6 months, or both.
     (b) If a false or fraudulent claim is knowingly submitted as part of a common scheme or if the value of the claim or the aggregate value of one or more claims exceeds $1,500, a person convicted of an offense under this section shall be fined not to exceed $10,000 or imprisoned in the state prison for a term not to exceed 10 years, or both.

     History: En. Sec. 1, Ch. 151, L. 1981; amd. Sec. 8, Ch. 581, L. 1983; amd. Sec. 10, Ch. 616, L. 1993; amd. Sec. 13, Ch. 397, L. 1999; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 312, L. 2005; amd. Sec. 15, Ch. 473, L. 2009.