# Criminal Law (GCR)

## Title 8. Fraud and Related Crimes

### Subtitle 5. Public Fraud

#### Section 8-524

(a)

  (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.

  (2) "Coercion" means:

    (i)

      (1) causing or threatening to cause bodily harm to an individual; or

      (2) physically restraining or confining or threatening to physically restrain or confine an individual;

    (ii) exposing or disseminating or threatening to expose or disseminate any fact or information that would tend to subject an individual to criminal or immigration proceedings, hatred, contempt, or ridicule;

    (iii) destroying, concealing, removing, confiscating, or possessing any actual or purported passport or other immigration document, or any other actual or purported government identification document, of an individual;

    (iv) providing a controlled dangerous substance to an individual for the purpose of compelling the individual to engage in an action against the individual's will;

    (v) causing or threatening to cause financial harm to an individual or exerting financial control over a disabled or elderly adult; or

    (vi) depriving an individual of medical care.

  (3) "Controlled dangerous substance" has the meaning stated in Sec. 5-101 of this article.

  (4) "Deception" means:

    (i) creating or confirming another person's impression of an existing fact or past event that is false and that the accused knows or believes to be false; or

    (ii) promising benefits or the performance of services that the accused does not intend to deliver or perform or knows will not be delivered or performed.

  (5) "Exploitation" means illegally or improperly using an individual or an individual's government benefits through undue influence, harassment, duress, false representation, false pretense, or other similar means for personal profit or advantage or for the profit or advantage of another.

  (6) "Government benefits" includes:

    (i) Medicare benefits;

    (ii) Medicaid benefits;

    (iii) Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits;

    (iv) Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) benefits;

    (v) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits;

    (vi) Social Security benefits;

    (vii) Social Security Disability (SSDI) benefits;

    (viii) veterans benefits;

    (ix) pension benefits;

    (x) Temporary Disability Assistance Program (TDAP) benefits; and

    (xi) Public Assistance to Adults (PAA) benefits.

  (7) "Isolation" means preventing an individual from having contact with friends or family, a welfare agency, law enforcement officers, health care providers, or other individuals or entities without the knowledge of the individual or against the individual's wishes.

(b)

  (1) A person may not, through deception, coercion, exploitation, or isolation, knowingly recruit, harbor, transport, or obtain an individual for the purpose of appropriating the government benefits of an individual for personal benefit or to benefit another.

  (2) A person may not knowingly benefit financially or by receiving anything of value from participation in a venture that violates paragraph (1) of this subsection.

  (3) A person may not aid, abet, or conspire with one or more persons to violate paragraph (1) of this subsection.

(c)

  (1) If the aggregate value of the government benefits involved is less than $1,500, a person who violates a provision of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 1 year or a fine not exceeding $500 or both.

  (2) If the aggregate value of the government benefits involved is at least $1,500 but less than $25,000, a person who violates a provision of this section is guilty of a felony and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 5 years or a fine not exceeding $10,000 or both.

  (3) If the aggregate value of the government benefits involved is at least $25,000, but less than $100,000, a person who violates a provision of this section is guilty of a felony and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 10 years or a fine not exceeding $15,000 or both.

  (4) If the aggregate value of the government benefits involved is $100,000 or more, a person who violates a provision of this section is guilty of a felony and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 20 years or a fine not exceeding $25,000 or both.

(d)

  (1) Each violation of this section shall be considered a separate offense.

  (2) A sentence imposed under this section may be separate from and consecutive to or concurrent with a sentence for any crime based on the act establishing the violation of this section.

---

Md. Code Ann., Crim. Law (as displayed at mgaleg.maryland.gov, October 16, 2026)