Fraud penalties in Rhode Island vary by the value involved and the specific statute. Small-dollar fraud (under $1,500) is typically a misdemeanor with up to 1 year jail and fines. Larger amounts become felonies with multi-year prison sentences. Federal fraud convictions carry significantly longer sentences under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, often with mandatory restitution to victims. Beyond imprisonment, fraud convictions often trigger asset forfeiture, professional license revocation (particularly devastating for licensed professionals in healthcare, finance, and law), and lifetime bars from working in regulated industries.
