A. A person who willfully violates Section 501 [58-13C-501 N.M. Stat. Ann.] or 502 [58- 13C-502 NMSA 1978] of the New Mexico Uniform Securities Act is guilty of a third degree felony and, upon conviction, shall be fined not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000) or imprisoned not more than three years, or both, for each violation. For purposes of Subsection B of Section 31-18-13 N.M. Stat. Ann., the minimum term prescribed by this subsection is three years.

Attorney's Note

Under the New Mexico Statutes, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:
ClassPrisonFine
third degree felonyup to 3 yearsup to $5,000
fourth degree felonyup to 18 monthsup to $5,000
For details, see N.M. Stat. Ann. § 31-18-15

Terms Used In New Mexico Statutes 58-13C-508

  • Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
  • Indictment: The formal charge issued by a grand jury stating that there is enough evidence that the defendant committed the crime to justify having a trial; it is used primarily for felonies.
  • Statute: A law passed by a legislature.

B. A person who willfully violates Section 505 [58-13C-505 N.M. Stat. Ann.] of the New Mexico Uniform Securities Act knowing the statement made to be false or misleading in a material respect is guilty of a third degree felony and, upon conviction, shall be fined not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000) or imprisoned not more than three years, or both, for each violation. For purposes of Subsection B of Section 31-18-13 N.M. Stat. Ann., the minimum term prescribed by this subsection is three years.

C. No criminal penalties apply to violations of Section 504 [58-13C-504 N.M. Stat. Ann.] of the New Mexico Uniform Securities Act or the notice filing requirements of section 302 [58-13C-302 N.M. Stat. Ann.] or 405 [58-13C-405 N.M. Stat. Ann.] of that act.

D. Except as provided in Subsections A through C of this section, a person who willfully violates any provision of the New Mexico Uniform Securities Act or a rule adopted or order issued pursuant to that act is guilty of a fourth degree felony and, upon conviction, shall be fined not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000) or imprisoned not more than eighteen months, or both, for each violation. For purposes of Subsection B of Section 31-18-13 N.M. Stat. Ann., the minimum term prescribed by this subsection is eighteen months.

E. An individual convicted of violating a rule or order pursuant to the New Mexico Uniform Securities Act may be fined, but shall not be imprisoned, if the individual did not have knowledge of the rule or order.

F. For the purposes of this section, “willfully” means purposely or intentionally committing the act or making the omission and does not require an intent to violate the law or knowledge that the act or omission is unlawful.

G. Each offense shall constitute a separate offense, and a prosecution for any one of such offenses shall not bar prosecution or conviction for any other offenses.

H. All persons convicted of criminal violations of the New Mexico Uniform Securities Act shall be sentenced in accordance with the Criminal Sentencing Act [N.M. Stat. Ann. Chapter 31, Article 18] or its successor statute.

I. No indictment or information may be brought pursuant to this section more than five years after the alleged violation.

J. The attorney general or the proper district attorney, with or without a referral from the director, may institute criminal proceedings pursuant to the New Mexico Uniform Securities Act. The attorney general or district attorney may request assistance from the director or employees of the division. When so requested by the director, the attorney general shall commission as a special assistant attorney general any attorney employed by the director or contracted with by the director and approved by the attorney general to assist the director in carrying out the director’s duties, including providing legal advice and prosecuting offenders.

K. The New Mexico Uniform Securities Act does not limit the power of New Mexico to punish a person for conduct that constitutes a crime pursuant to other laws of New Mexico.