(a) It is an offense for any person to falsely make, alter, forge, pass or counterfeit a ticket, share, chance or similar record for an annual event with the intent to defraud.

Attorney's Note

Under the Tennessee Code, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:
ClassPrisonFine
class E felony1 to 6 yearsup to $3,000
class A misdemeanorup to 11 monthsup to $2,500
For details, see Tenn. Code § 40-35-111

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Terms Used In Tennessee Code 39-17-656

  • Annual event: means an event:
    (A) Authorized by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of all members elected to each house of the general assembly. See Tennessee Code 39-17-601
  • Coercion: means a threat, however communicated, to:
    (A) Commit any offense. See Tennessee Code 39-11-106
  • Deception: means that a person knowingly:
    (i) Creates or reinforces a false impression by words or conduct, including false impressions of fact, law, value or intention or other state of mind that the person does not believe to be true. See Tennessee Code 39-11-106
  • Person: includes the singular and the plural and means and includes any individual, firm, partnership, copartnership, association, corporation, governmental subdivision or agency, or other organization or other legal entity, or any agent or servant thereof. See Tennessee Code 39-11-106
  • Record: means information that is inscribed on a tangible medium or that is stored in an electronic or other medium and is retrievable in a perceivable form. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
(b) It is an offense for any person to knowingly influence, or attempt to influence, the winning of a prize through the use of coercion, fraud, deception, or tampering with an annual event’s equipment or materials.
(c)

(1) A violation of subsection (a) is a Class A misdemeanor; provided, however, that the maximum fine shall be twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000).
(2) A violation of subsection (b) is a Class E felony; provided, however, that the maximum fine shall be fifty thousand dollars ($50,000).