Massachusetts General Laws ch. 271A sec. 1 – Definitions
Section 1. As used in this chapter, the following words shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly requires otherwise:
Terms Used In Massachusetts General Laws ch. 271A sec. 1
- Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
- Embezzlement: In most states, embezzlement is defined as theft/larceny of assets (money or property) by a person in a position of trust or responsibility over those assets. Embezzlement typically occurs in the employment and corporate settings. Source: OCC
- Forgery: The fraudulent signing or alteration of another's name to an instrument such as a deed, mortgage, or check. The intent of the forgery is to deceive or defraud. Source: OCC
- Fraud: Intentional deception resulting in injury to another.
- Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
- Partnership: A voluntary contract between two or more persons to pool some or all of their assets into a business, with the agreement that there will be a proportional sharing of profits and losses.
- Usury: Charging an illegally high interest rate on a loan. Source: OCC
”Criminal enterprise activity”, the commission, attempt to commit or conspiracy to commit or the solicitation, coercion, aiding, abetting or intimidation of another to commit any of the following criminal activities under the laws of the commonwealth or equivalent crimes under the laws of any other jurisdiction: a violation of any criminal provision of chapter 23K; a felony offense under chapter 271; distributing, dispensing, manufacturing or possessing with intent to distribute, dispense or manufacture a controlled substance in violation of chapter 94C; murder; rape; manslaughter, not including motor vehicle homicide; assault; assault and battery; assault and battery in order to collect a loan; assault with intent to rob or murder; poisoning; mayhem; robbery; extortion; stalking; criminal harassment; kidnapping; arson; burglary; malicious destruction of property; commission of a felony for hire; breaking and entering; child exploitation; assault and battery on a child; rape of a child; rape and abuse of a child; enticement of a child under 16; human trafficking; violation of constitutional rights under section 37 of chapter 265; usury; uttering; misuse or fraudulent use of credit cards under section 37C of chapter 266; identity fraud; misappropriation of funds; gross fraud under section 76 of chapter 276; insurance fraud; unlawful prize fighting or boxing matches; counterfeiting; perjury; subornation of perjury; obstruction of justice; money laundering; witness intimidation; bribery; electronic eavesdropping; prostitution under sections 2, 3, 4A, 4B, 6, 7, 12 and 13 of chapter 272; receiving stolen property; larceny over $250; larceny by false pretenses or embezzlement; forgery; procurement fraud; false claims; tax evasion; filing false tax returns; or any conduct defined as a racketeering activity under Title 18, U.S.C. s. 1961(1)(A)(B) and (D).
”Enterprise”, an entity including any individual, sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, association, trust or other legal entity and any unchartered union or group of persons associated in fact although not a legally-recognized entity.
”Gaming establishment”, an establishment licensed under chapter 23K.
”Pattern of criminal enterprise activity”, engaging in at least 3 incidents of criminal enterprise activity that have the same or similar pattern, intents, results, accomplices, victims or methods of commission or are otherwise interrelated by distinguishing characteristics and are not isolated incidents; provided, however, that at least 1 of the incidents shall have occurred after the effective date of this chapter and the last incident shall have occurred within 5 years of another incident of criminal enterprise activity.
”Unlawful debt”, a debt which was incurred or contracted in an illegal gambling activity or business or which is unenforceable under state or federal law, in whole or in part, as to principal or interest under the law relating to usury.