Florida criminal charge
False or misleading statements or supporting documents; penalty in Florida
False or misleading statements or supporting documents; penalty is a criminal offense under Florida law, defined by Fla. Stat. § 817.2341. Its classification is not fixed: Florida 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 Fla. Stat. § 817.2341.
What is the penalty for false or misleading statements or supporting documents; penalty in Florida?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | up to 5 years (False or misleading financial statement filed with department/office — A person willfully files or signs for filing a materially false or misleading financial statement or supporting document required by law or rule, with intent to deceive and knowledge of its falsity.) | discretionary | Fla. Stat. § 775.082 |
| Fine | up to $5,000 (False or misleading financial statement filed with department/office — A person willfully files or signs for filing a materially false or misleading financial statement or supporting document required by law or rule, with intent to deceive and knowledge of its falsity.; or up to double the pecuniary gain/loss (s. 775.083(1)(f)); statutes may authorize higher (s. 775.083(1)(g))) | discretionary | Fla. Stat. § 775.082 |
| Jail / prison | up to 5 years (False entry of material fact regarding insurer transaction — A person makes a false entry of a material fact in a book, report, or statement relating to a transaction of an insurer or chapter 624/641 entity, intending to deceive as to its financial condition or solvency.) | discretionary | Fla. Stat. § 775.082 |
| Fine | up to $5,000 (False entry of material fact regarding insurer transaction — A person makes a false entry of a material fact in a book, report, or statement relating to a transaction of an insurer or chapter 624/641 entity, intending to deceive as to its financial condition or solvency.; or up to double the pecuniary gain/loss (s. 775.083(1)(f)); statutes may authorize higher (s. 775.083(1)(g))) | discretionary | Fla. Stat. § 775.082 |
| Jail / prison | up to 30 years (False entry causing capital impairment deception or receivership — The false entry of a material fact is made intending to deceive as to capital impairment or is a significant cause of the insurer/entity being placed in conservation, rehabilitation, or liquidation by a court.; when specifically provided by statute, a term of years not exceeding life imprisonment (s. 775.082(3)(b)1.)) | discretionary | Fla. Stat. § 775.082 |
| Fine | up to $10,000 (False entry causing capital impairment deception or receivership — The false entry of a material fact is made intending to deceive as to capital impairment or is a significant cause of the insurer/entity being placed in conservation, rehabilitation, or liquidation by a court.; or up to double the pecuniary gain/loss (s. 775.083(1)(f)); statutes may authorize higher (s. 775.083(1)(g))) | discretionary | Fla. Stat. § 775.082 |
| Jail / prison | up to 5 years (False statement, report, or overvaluation to department/office — A person knowingly makes a material false statement or report to the department/office or agent, or knowingly and materially overvalues property in a document or report presented to them.) | discretionary | Fla. Stat. § 775.082 |
| Fine | up to $5,000 (False statement, report, or overvaluation to department/office — A person knowingly makes a material false statement or report to the department/office or agent, or knowingly and materially overvalues property in a document or report presented to them.; or up to double the pecuniary gain/loss (s. 775.083(1)(f)); statutes may authorize higher (s. 775.083(1)(g))) | discretionary | Fla. Stat. § 775.082 |
| Jail / prison | up to 30 years (False statement or overvaluation causing capital impairment deception or receivership — The material false statement, report, or overvaluation is made intending to deceive as to capital impairment or is a significant cause of the insurer/entity being placed in receivership by a court.; when specifically provided by statute, a term of years not exceeding life imprisonment (s. 775.082(3)(b)1.)) | discretionary | Fla. Stat. § 775.082 |
| Fine | up to $10,000 (False statement or overvaluation causing capital impairment deception or receivership — The material false statement, report, or overvaluation is made intending to deceive as to capital impairment or is a significant cause of the insurer/entity being placed in receivership by a court.; or up to double the pecuniary gain/loss (s. 775.083(1)(f)); statutes may authorize higher (s. 775.083(1)(g))) | discretionary | Fla. Stat. § 775.082 |
Applies to current (2025 Florida Statutes).
How is false or misleading statements or supporting documents; penalty classified in Florida?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| False or misleading financial statement filed with department/office | Felony of the Third Degree | A person willfully files or signs for filing a materially false or misleading financial statement or supporting document required by law or rule, with intent to deceive and knowledge of its falsity. | Fla. Stat. § 817.2341(1) |
| False entry of material fact regarding insurer transaction | Felony of the Third Degree | A person makes a false entry of a material fact in a book, report, or statement relating to a transaction of an insurer or chapter 624/641 entity, intending to deceive as to its financial condition or solvency. | Fla. Stat. § 817.2341(2)(a) |
| False entry causing capital impairment deception or receivership | Felony of the First Degree | The false entry of a material fact is made intending to deceive as to capital impairment or is a significant cause of the insurer/entity being placed in conservation, rehabilitation, or liquidation by a court. | Fla. Stat. § 817.2341(2)(b) |
| False statement, report, or overvaluation to department/office | Felony of the Third Degree | A person knowingly makes a material false statement or report to the department/office or agent, or knowingly and materially overvalues property in a document or report presented to them. | Fla. Stat. § 817.2341(3)(a) |
| False statement or overvaluation causing capital impairment deception or receivership | Felony of the First Degree | The material false statement, report, or overvaluation is made intending to deceive as to capital impairment or is a significant cause of the insurer/entity being placed in receivership by a court. | Fla. Stat. § 817.2341(3)(b) |
Common questions about false or misleading statements or supporting documents; penalty in Florida
Is false or misleading statements or supporting documents; penalty a felony or a misdemeanor in Florida?
It depends on the circumstances: false or misleading statements or supporting documents; penalty ranges from a Felony of the Third Degree to a Felony of the First Degree in Florida under Fla. Stat. § 817.2341.
False or misleading financial statement filed with department/office: Felony of the Third Degree (Fla. Stat. § 817.2341(1)) · False entry of material fact regarding insurer transaction: Felony of the Third Degree (Fla. Stat. § 817.2341(2)(a)) · False entry causing capital impairment deception or receivership: Felony of the First Degree (Fla. Stat. § 817.2341(2)(b)) · False statement, report, or overvaluation to department/office: Felony of the Third Degree (Fla. Stat. § 817.2341(3)(a)) · False statement or overvaluation causing capital impairment deception or receivership: Felony of the First Degree (Fla. Stat. § 817.2341(3)(b))
What are the penalties for false or misleading statements or supporting documents; penalty in Florida?
Penalties for false or misleading statements or supporting documents; penalty in Florida depend on how it is classified — from a Felony of the Third Degree up to a Felony of the First Degree — with the ranges set by Fla. Stat. § 775.082; the full table of ranges by variant is published on this page.
Which Florida statute covers false or misleading statements or supporting documents; penalty?
False or misleading statements or supporting documents; penalty is governed by Fla. Stat. § 817.2341 (False or misleading statements or supporting documents; penalty).
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.