SECTION 3.2-4737. Offenses and punishment

Any person who commits any of the following acts is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor:

1. Imposes false charges for handling or for services in connection with farm products;

2. Fails to account promptly, correctly, fully and properly and to make settlement as provided in this article;

3. Makes false and misleading statements as to market conditions with the intent to deceive;

4. Makes fictitious sales or collusion to defraud the consignor, or enters into any combination to fix prices;

5. Directly or indirectly purchases for his or its own account, farm products, received by him or it on consignment without prior authority from the consignor in writing. This subsection shall not apply to the operators of livestock auction markets who are prohibited from purchasing consigned livestock under the federal Packers and Stockyards Act of 1921 (42 Stat. 159), as amended;

6. Intentionally makes false statements as to grade, condition, markings, quality, or quantity of farm products shipped or packed;

7. Reconsigns farm products as have been consigned to him to another person, unless consent of the consignor has been first obtained in writing, or notice given in writing to the consignor by the licensee that all or a part of such shipment was reconsigned;

8. Sells farm products consigned to him to another person owned or controlled by him, or in which the licensee may have a financial or other interest, either directly or indirectly, unless notice is given, in writing, to the consignor by the commission merchant that all or a part of such shipment was sold to a person in which the licensee has a financial or other interest;

9. Fraudulently or deceptively obtains a license;

10. Fails or neglects to give written notice immediately to the Commissioner and the surety on the bond of the commission merchant, of any changes or alterations in the style, name or personnel of the person to whom such license has been issued; or

11. Fails to comply with the provisions of this article.

Code 1950, § 3-560; 1966, c. 702, § 3.1-718; 1979, c. 389; 2008, c. 860 .