Springfield, Illinois – Sangamon County State’s Attorney, Dan Wright, announced today that his office will strictly enforce criminal penalties against any individual who knowingly or maliciously disseminate false information regarding the COVID-19 virus.
In addition, anyone who refuses to comply with any isolation, quarantine or closure order issued by local health authorities, will be faced with strict criminal penalties.
“In this unprecedented public health crisis, knowingly false or malicious reports to public health officials or law enforcement regarding the COVID-19 virus will not be tolerated,” Wright said.
Under Illinois law, if you are convicted, it is a class A misdemeanor and could result in jail time of up to 364 days and a potential fine of $2,500. In certain circumstances, knowingly filing a false report which leads to the response by a public safety agency may be charged as a class 4 felony. If you’re convicted, it could lead to a sentence of 1-3 years in prison and a fine up to $25,000. Additional penalties could also include reimbursement of the public agency up to $10,000.
In response to Illinois Governor, JB Pritzker’s, stay at home order, the Sangamon County State’s Attorney’s Office is also reminding citizens that the Governor’s order may be enforced by state and local law enforcement pursuant to the Illinois Emergency Management Act.
Additionally, Wright stated that, “the Sangamon County State’s Attorney’s Office is committed to supporting the enforcement efforts of the Illinois Attorney General’s Office to crack down on price gouging and fraudulent schemes designed to take advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic.”