Fraud in Rhode Island can be charged as either a misdemeanor or felony depending on the dollar amount and the specific statute. Small-dollar fraud (under $1,500) is typically a misdemeanor with up to 1 year jail. Larger amounts trigger felony charges with multi-year prison exposure. Federal fraud charges (wire, mail, bank, securities, healthcare) are almost always felonies with sentences under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines that frequently exceed state-level penalties. Aggravating factors like multiple victims, elderly or vulnerable targets, breach of professional duty, and pattern conduct push sentencing dramatically higher even when the underlying amount is moderate.
