Would Veronica Theriault Have Been Arrested in the US?
<p>There is a viral news story about an Australian woman named Veronica Hilda Theriault, who falsified her resume and used fake pictures and references to get a high-paying job. She was arrested and sentenced to a year in prison.</p>

<p>While her actions are obviously distasteful (and certainly grounds for dismissal), would this be criminal in the US? It seems unusual to me that ordinary lying (not in court) would be treated as a criminal matter.</p>

<p>Potentially, yes - especially if its the government you lie to in your CV/resume or course of work.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Wayne Simmons, a regular Fox News commentator who claimed to have worked for the Central Intelligence Agency for almost three decades, was arrested on Thursday for allegedly fabricating his agency experience.</p>
<p>CNN Money reports that Simmons appeared in court on Thursday, where he faced charges of major fraud against the United States for falsely claiming to be a former “outside paramilitary special operations officer”—a padded resume that federal officials say he used to successfully gain government security clearances.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><a href="https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2015/10/wayne-simmons-cia-arrested-fox-news/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2015/10/wayne-simmons-cia-arrested-fox-news/</a></p>
<blockquote>
<p>Simmons claimed to have been an &quot;outside paramilitary special operations officer&quot; for the CIA from 1973 to 2000. Not only did he use that claim to get guest appearances on Fox News, but the government claims he used it to gain security clearances and a defense contractor gig that included advising senior military personnel overseas. He's now being charged with wire fraud, major fraud against the United States, and making false statements to the government and could face 35 years in prison.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><a href="https://blogs.findlaw.com/law_and_life/2015/10/can-you-get-arrested-for-lying-on-your-resume.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://blogs.findlaw.com/law_and_life/2015/10/can-you-get-arrested-for-lying-on-your-resume.html</a></p>
<blockquote>
<p>Making false or fraudulent statements also may be punishable by fine or imprisonment.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><a href="https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/fair-and-transparent/signature-false-statements/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/fair-and-transparent/signature-false-statements/</a></p>

<p>Would she be arrested? Almost certainly not. </p>

<p>Could she be arrested? Yes, criminal fraud, case would be similar to the cases made against participants in the recent college admissions scandals in the US. This only happens when the media gets involved and some prosecutor with political aspirations thinks that justice in this case would be popular. </p>

<p>In many cases, the victim company itself wouldn't even pursue civil remedy.</p>

<p>Disclaimer: I did not read the news stories - just your question.</p>

<p>I know the OP asked specifically about the United States, but as an additional data-point, lying on a CV is definitely criminal in England and Wales (specifically "Fraud by misrepresentation").  See <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/students-told-they-face-jail-for-lying-on-their-cv-9580583.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">this article</a> in the Independent (I couldn't find an online copy of the original leaflet).</p>

<p>The article reports one woman who was given a six month sentence for lying on their CV.  (Given the multiple layers of reporting here, it is quite possible this was a <em>suspended</em> prison sentence.)</p>

united-states fraud