{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/crime-of-moral-turpitude","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/crime-of-moral-turpitude","data_freshness":{"sba_records_through":"2026-05-31","fdic_records_through":"2026-03-31","dealroom_last_updated":"2026-06-16","timezone":"America/Chicago"},"source_summary":["Public SBA 7(a) loan records","FDIC institution data","DealRoom lender and franchise enrichment"],"term":{"slug":"crime-of-moral-turpitude","term":"Crime of moral turpitude","group":"People and paperwork","definition":"A type of crime involving dishonesty, fraud, or depravity, which can disqualify you from getting an SBA loan. It's a key part of the SBA's character review.","what_it_means":"The SBA screens borrowers and key principals for these crimes. A conviction for a \"crime of moral turpitude\" can make you ineligible for a 7(a) loan. Be transparent with your lender if you have any past legal issues; they will find out during the background checks.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/crime-of-moral-turpitude","official_sources":[{"slug":"sop-50-10","title":"SOP 50 10 — Lender and Development Company Loan Programs","official_url":"https://www.sba.gov/document/sop-50-10-lender-development-company-loan-programs","official_label":"View on SBA.gov","authority_tier":2,"publisher":"U.S. Small Business Administration","source_guide_url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/sources/sop-50-10"},{"slug":"sba-form-1919","title":"SBA Form 1919 — Borrower Information Form","official_url":"https://www.sba.gov/document/sba-form-1919-borrower-information-form","official_label":"View on SBA.gov","authority_tier":4,"publisher":"U.S. Small Business Administration","source_guide_url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/sources/sba-form-1919"}],"related":[{"slug":"character-based-eligibility-criterion","term":"Character-based eligibility criterion","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/character-based-eligibility-criterion"},{"slug":"felony","term":"Felony","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/felony"},{"slug":"fraud","term":"Fraud","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/fraud"},{"slug":"form-1919","term":"Form 1919","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/form-1919"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"Can I use a secured personal line of credit as part of my equity injection?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/can-i-use-a-secured-personal-line-of-credit-as-part-of-my-equity-injection"},{"question":"Can a seller-financed portion of the sale be considered part of my equity injection?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/can-a-seller-financed-portion-of-the-sale-be-considered-part-of-my-equity-injection"},{"question":"Can a buyer's assumption of existing business debt count as part of the equity injection?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/can-a-buyer-s-assumption-of-existing-business-debt-count-as-part-of-the-equity-injection"},{"question":"Can I use funds from a personal line of credit as part of my equity injection?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/can-i-use-funds-from-a-personal-line-of-credit-as-part-of-my-equity-injection"},{"question":"Can funds from an unsecured personal line of credit be considered part of my equity injection?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/can-funds-from-an-unsecured-personal-line-of-credit-be-considered-part-of-my-equity-inject"},{"question":"Do all owners of an acquiring business, regardless of ownership percentage, need to provide a personal guaranty?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/do-all-owners-of-an-acquiring-business-regardless-of-ownership-percentage-need-to-provide-"}]},"caveats":["Definitions represent DealRoom's plain-English interpretation for buyers; verify regulatory terms against the official SBA and eCFR sources listed.","Not legal, tax, or financial advice, and not an SBA eligibility determination."],"citation":{"label":"DealRoom.so Glossary — Crime of moral turpitude","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/crime-of-moral-turpitude","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}