NY Penal Law § 180.53: Impairing the integrity of a pari-mutuel betting system in the first degree

It is a crime to impair the integrity of a pari-mutuel betting system. Depending on the amount of money involved, if you do impair the integrity of a pari-mutuel betting system you could be charged with either a class D or a class E felony. Under New York Penal Law § 180.53 you could be charged with impairing the integrity of a pari-mutuel betting system in the first degree if with the intent to receive a payment or with the intent to defraud someone in an amount that exceeds $5000, you:

1. Interfere with any equipment used in connection with pari-mutuel betting; or
2. Cause an inaccurate, delayed or unauthorized data to be fed into, or transmitted over, or registered in or displayed upon any equipment used in connection with pari-mutuel betting.

Josiah thought of a way to alter a device related to a betting system so that it would display the winners of his choice instead of the actual winners. Josiah decided to alter the device only if he if he was about to lose a substantial amount of money to his buddy, Thomas. If Josiah does alter the device and defrauds Thomas, Josiah could be charged with impairing the integrity of a pari-mutuel betting system in the first degree.

1. Impairing the integrity of a pari-mutuel betting system in the second degree: New York Penal Law § 180.52

In order for you to be guilty of impairing the integrity of a pari-mutuel betting system in the first degree, you must have had the intent to receive payment or the intent to defraud. If the prosecutor cannot prove that you had such intent, then you have a defense to the charge. In addition, the amount of money involved must be more than $5000. If it is less, then you did not commit the crime of impairing the integrity of a pari-mutuel betting system in the first degree.

Impairing the integrity of a pari-mutuel betting system in the first degree is a class D felony. If you are convicted of this offense you could be sent to prison for up to 7 years. You could also receive a probation sentence of up to 5 years and be required to pay a fine.

A person is guilty of impairing the integrity of a pari-mutuel betting system in the first degree when, with the intent to obtain either any payment for himself or for a third person or with the intent to defraud any person, and when the value of the payment exceeds one thousand five hundred dollars he:

1. Alters, changes or interferes with any equipment or device used in connection with pari-mutuel betting; or

2. Causes any false, inaccurate, delayed or unauthorized data, impulse or signal to be fed into, or transmitted over, or registered in or displayed upon any equipment or device used in connection with pari-mutuel betting.

If you are under investigation for impairing the integrity of a pari-mutuel betting system in the first degree, it is important that you have experienced representation. Impairing the integrity of a pari-mutuel betting system is a serious offense. If you are convicted you could end up serving a 7 year prison sentence. The staff at the Law Offices of Stephen Bilkis & Associates has years of experience successfully defending clients in New York criminal courts who have been charged with misdemeanors and felonies such as impairing the integrity of a pari-mutuel betting system, assault, menacing, reckless endangerment, stalking, rape, and child endangerment. Contact us at 800.696.9529 to schedule a free, no obligation consultation regarding your case. We serve those accused of larceny in the following locations: the Bronx, Brooklyn, Long Island, Manhattan, Nassau County, Queens, Staten Island, Suffolk County and Westchester County.