51-19-14. Criminal penalties

51-19-14. Criminal penalties 1. Any person who willfully violates any provision of this chapter or who willfully violates any rule or order under this chapter is guilty of a class B felony. 2. Any person who willfully employs, directly or indirectly, any device, scheme, or artifice to defraud in connection with the offer or sale of any franchise or willfully engages, directly or indirectly, in any act, practice, or course of business which operates or would operate as a fraud or deceit upon any person in connection with the offer, purchase, or sale of any franchise is guilty of a class B felony. 3. Nothing in this chapter limits the power of the state to punish any person for any conduct that constitutes a crime. 4. An information must be filed or an indictment must be found under this chapter within five years after the commissioner or criminal prosecutor knew or reasonably should have known about the facts that are the basis for the prosecution. 5. "Willfully" means the person was aware of the consequences of the person's actions, and proof of evil motive or intent to violate the law or knowledge that the law was being violated is not required. Each act or omission is a separate offense, and a prosecution or conviction for an offense does not bar a prosecution or conviction for any other offense.