Colorado criminal charge
Issuing a false financial statement in Colorado
Issuing a false financial statement is a criminal offense under Colorado law, defined by C.R.S. § 18-5-209. Its classification is not fixed: Colorado assigns a different penalty class depending on the circumstances of the offense. The class that applies — and the sentencing range that follows from it — depends on which statutory variant fits the facts.
Defined by C.R.S. § 18-5-209.
What is the penalty for issuing a false financial statement in Colorado?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | up to 120 days (no statutory minimum) (Issuing a false financial statement — Applies when a person, with intent to defraud, makes or utters a false written instrument about financial condition or ability to pay, as described in subsection (1).) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-501 |
| Fine | up to 750 usd (no statutory minimum) (Issuing a false financial statement — Applies when a person, with intent to defraud, makes or utters a false written instrument about financial condition or ability to pay, as described in subsection (1).) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-501 |
| Jail / prison | up to 120 days (no statutory minimum) (Issuing a false financial statement for purposes of obtaining a financial transaction device — Applies when a person issues a false financial statement to obtain a single financial transaction device that is then used to obtain property, services, or money.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-501 |
| Fine | up to 750 usd (no statutory minimum) (Issuing a false financial statement for purposes of obtaining a financial transaction device — Applies when a person issues a false financial statement to obtain a single financial transaction device that is then used to obtain property, services, or money.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-501 |
| Jail / prison | 12 months to 18 months (Issuing multiple false financial statements for purposes of obtaining multiple financial transaction devices — Applies when a person issues two or more false financial statements to obtain two or more financial transaction devices that are used to obtain property, services, or money.) | presumptive | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-401 |
| Fine | 1000 usd to 100000 usd (Issuing multiple false financial statements for purposes of obtaining multiple financial transaction devices — Applies when a person issues two or more false financial statements to obtain two or more financial transaction devices that are used to obtain property, services, or money.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-401 |
| Parole / supervision | 1 years to 1 years (Issuing multiple false financial statements for purposes of obtaining multiple financial transaction devices — Applies when a person issues two or more false financial statements to obtain two or more financial transaction devices that are used to obtain property, services, or money.; mandatory parole) | mandatory | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-401 |
Applies to offenses on/after 2022-03-01 (SB21-271).
How is issuing a false financial statement classified in Colorado?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Issuing a false financial statement | class 2 misdemeanor | Applies when a person, with intent to defraud, makes or utters a false written instrument about financial condition or ability to pay, as described in subsection (1). | 18-5-209(2) |
| Issuing a false financial statement for purposes of obtaining a financial transaction device | class 2 misdemeanor | Applies when a person issues a false financial statement to obtain a single financial transaction device that is then used to obtain property, services, or money. | 18-5-209(4) |
| Issuing multiple false financial statements for purposes of obtaining multiple financial transaction devices | class 6 felony | Applies when a person issues two or more false financial statements to obtain two or more financial transaction devices that are used to obtain property, services, or money. | 18-5-209(5) |
Common questions about issuing a false financial statement in Colorado
Is issuing a false financial statement a felony or a misdemeanor in Colorado?
It depends on the circumstances: issuing a false financial statement ranges from a class 2 misdemeanor to a class 6 felony in Colorado under C.R.S. § 18-5-209.
Issuing a false financial statement: class 2 misdemeanor (C.R.S. § 18-5-209(2)) · Issuing a false financial statement for purposes of obtaining a financial transaction device: class 2 misdemeanor (C.R.S. § 18-5-209(4)) · Issuing multiple false financial statements for purposes of obtaining multiple financial transaction devices: class 6 felony (C.R.S. § 18-5-209(5))
What are the penalties for issuing a false financial statement in Colorado?
Penalties for issuing a false financial statement in Colorado depend on how it is classified — from a class 2 misdemeanor up to a class 6 felony — with the ranges set by C.R.S. § 18-1.3-501 and C.R.S. § 18-1.3-401; the full table of ranges by variant is published on this page.
Which Colorado statute covers issuing a false financial statement?
Issuing a false financial statement is governed by C.R.S. § 18-5-209 (Issuing a false financial statement - obtaining a financial transaction device by false statements).
Legal terms used in this law
This reference is informational and is not legal advice. Penalty ranges are the statutory classification ranges; sentencing in a specific case depends on its facts and history.