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December 26, 2024 Clear | 24°F
The 193rd General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Section 132: Frauds against the government

Article 132. Frauds against the government.

A person subject to this code who engages in the following conduct shall be punished as a court-martial may direct:

(1) knowing it to be false or fraudulent, (A) makes a claim against the United States, the commonwealth or an officer thereof or (B) presents to a person in the civil or military service thereof, for approval or payment, a claim against the United States, the commonwealth or an officer thereof;

(2) for the purpose of obtaining the approval, allowance or payment of a claim against the United States, the commonwealth or an officer thereof (A) makes or uses a writing or other paper knowing it to contain any false or fraudulent statements, (B) makes an oath, affirmation or certification to a fact or to a writing or other paper knowing the oath, affirmation or certification to be false or (C) forges or counterfeits a signature upon a writing or other paper or uses any such signature knowing it to be forged or counterfeited;

(3) having charge, possession, custody or control of any money or other property of the United States or the commonwealth that was furnished or intended for the armed forces of the United States or the state military forces, knowingly delivers to a person having authority to receive it, an amount thereof that is less than that for which such person received a certificate or receipt;

or (4) being authorized to make or deliver a paper certifying the receipt of any property of the United States or the commonwealth that was furnished or intended for the armed forces of the United States or the state military forces, makes or delivers to another such writing without having full knowledge of the truth of the statements contained therein and with intent to defraud the United States or the commonwealth.