---
title: O.C.G.A. § 10-5A-31. Criminal penalties for violating chapter; institution of criminal proceedings.
collection: code
id: 10-5A-31
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 10-5A-31 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/10-5A-31
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/10-5A-31.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/10-5A-31/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t10-(v8)-2024-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=1992b47e_0#page=858
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: COMMERCE AND TRADE / COMMODITIES AND COMMODITY CONTRACTS AND OPTIONS / ENFORCEMENT
---

# O.C.G.A. § 10-5A-31. Criminal penalties for violating chapter; institution of criminal proceedings.

(a) Any person who willfully violates any provision of this chapter shall be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, shall be fined not more than $50,000.00 or imprisoned for not more than ten years, or both, for each violation.

(b) The Commissioner may refer such evidence as is available concerning violations of this chapter or any rule or order of the Commissioner to the Attorney General or the proper district attorney, who may, with or without such a reference from the Commissioner, institute the appropriate criminal proceedings under this chapter.

## History

Code 1981, § 10-5A-31, enacted by Ga. L. 1988, p. 1636, § 1.