New York Consolidated Laws

N.Y. General Business Law § 358 (2026)

Criminal prosecution

✓ current as of May 2026
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§ 358. Criminal prosecution. The attorney-general may prosecute every
person charged with the commission of a criminal offense in violation of
the laws of this state, applicable to or in respect of the practices or
transactions which in this article are referred to as fraudulent
practices. In all such proceedings, the attorney-general may appear in
person or by his deputy before any court of record or any grand jury and
exercise all the powers and perform all the duties in respect of such
actions or proceedings which the district attorney would otherwise be
authorized or required to exercise or perform; or the attorney-general
may in his discretion transmit evidence, proof and information as to
such offense to the district attorney of the county or counties in which
the alleged violation has occurred, and every district attorney to whom
such evidence, proof and information is so transmitted shall forthwith
proceed to prosecute any corporation, company, association, or officer,
manager or agent thereof, or any firm or person charged with such
violation. In any such proceeding, wherein the attorney-general has
appeared either in person or by deputy, the district attorney shall only
exercise such powers and perform such duties as are required of him by
the attorney-general or the deputy attorney-general so appearing.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 10 cases, 1970–2013 · leading case: Della Pietra v. State, 526 N.E.2d 1 (N.Y. 1988).
Della Pietra v. State, 526 N.E.2d 1 (N.Y. 1988). “, General Business Law §§ 358, 692; Executive Law § 70-a), has no power to prosecute criminal actions (see, Matter of B.”
Haggerty v. Himelein, 677 N.E.2d 276 (N.Y. 1997). “…criminal offenses, with or without direction from the Governor (see, e.g., Executive Law § 70-a [7]; ECL 71-2105 [4]; General Business Law §§ 358, 692; Real Property Law § 442-e [2]; § 446-h [2]). Had the Attorney-General’s office asserted authority in this local criminal…”
People v. Miran, 107 A.D.3d 28 (N.Y. App. Div. 2013). “General Business Law §§ 358, 692; Executive Law § 70-a).”
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc. v. Cavicchia, 311 F. Supp. 149 (S.D.N.Y. 1970). “, General Business Law § 358), prosecute defendants criminally for their fraudulent conduct is not here.”
People v. Lurie, 249 A.D.2d 119 (N.Y. App. Div. 1998). “The Legislature has endowed the Attorney-General with the dual responsibilities of reviewing cooperative conversion plans (General Business Law § 352-e), and also prosecuting civil and criminal violations of the Martin Act (General Business Law § 358).”
Haggerty v. Himelein, 221 A.D.2d 138 (N.Y. App. Div. 1995). “, General Business Law §§ 358, 692; Executive Law § 70-a), has no power to prosecute criminal actions” (Della Pietra v State of New York, supra, at 796-797; see also, Matter of B.”
People v. Ifill, 127 Misc. 2d 678 (N.Y. Sup. Ct. 1985). “” General Business Law § 358 provides that the “attorney-general may prosecute * * * or the attorney-general may in his discretion transmit evidence, proof and information as to such offense to the district attorney * * * and every district attorney to whom such evidence * * *…”
People v. Thomas, 134 Misc. 2d 649 (N.Y. Sup. Ct. 1986). “” General Business Law § 358 *651 empowers the Attorney-General to prosecute violations of section 352-c (6).”
People v. Ferone, 167 Misc. 2d 1022 (1996). “The District Attorney does not dispute that the Attorney-General’s broad power to regulate, investigate and enforce is exclusive to the Attorney-General.”
People v. Miran, 107 A.D.3d 28 (N.Y. App. Div. 2013). “General Business Law §§ 358, 692; Executive Law § 70-a).”
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