Gov. Scott Walker is looking at a proposal to create criminal penalties for defrauding the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp, following several cases of fraud exposed earlier this year.
State Rep. Samantha Kerkman, R-Salem, told the Wisconsin State Journal last week she is considering legislation that would create a criminal penalty for defrauding WEDC.
While Wisconsin’s criminal code currently considers bank fraud a Class E felony, punishable by up to $50,000 or 15 years in prison, it’s not directly applicable here since WEDC isn’t a bank.
When the WEDC was created in 2011, it was given powers to impose a financial penalty on award recipients who provide false or misleading information, but not criminal penalties.
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