Can I be charged/arrested with a crime after a bad construction deal?

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Can I be charged/arrested with a crime after a bad construction deal?

I owned a construction company and went out of business. I had one outstanding client who gave me money down and I never did the job because of financial difficulties. Can I be charged with a crime and arrested ?

Asked on July 5, 2012 under Criminal Law, Washington

Answers:

Kevin Bessant / Law Office of Kevin Bessant & Associates

Answered 11 years ago | Contributor

Typically a person is not penalized criminally for bad business deals unless those deals involved an element of fraud or false pretenses. The crime of False Pretenses is where you engage in a particular activity or business arrangement with another party with a fraudulent intent to mislead or defraud the person with a financial gain. Thus, if you knew that your business was closing, and entered into a contract or work agreement with a sole intent to get paid but not deliver on the services, then yes, you could be charged with the crime of False Pretenses in addition to other fraud charges as well.


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