{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/criminal-conviction","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/criminal-conviction","data_freshness":{"sba_records_through":"2026-05-31","fdic_records_through":"2026-03-31","dealroom_last_updated":"2026-06-15","timezone":"America/Chicago"},"source_summary":["Public SBA 7(a) loan records","FDIC institution data","DealRoom lender and franchise enrichment"],"term":{"slug":"criminal-conviction","term":"Criminal Conviction","group":"People and paperwork","definition":"This refers to a formal declaration by a court that an individual is guilty of a criminal offense. Buyers care because certain convictions can make you ineligible for an SBA loan, impacting your ability to secure financing.","what_it_means":"The SBA requires disclosure of past criminal convictions for all key principals on Form 1919. Certain felonies or crimes involving fraud, dishonesty, or breach of trust can disqualify you. Be transparent and consult legal counsel if you have concerns about your background.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/criminal-conviction","official_sources":[{"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"},{"slug":"13-cfr-part-120","title":"13 CFR Part 120 — Business Loans","official_url":"https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-13/chapter-I/part-120","official_label":"View on eCFR","authority_tier":1,"publisher":"Office of the Federal Register","source_guide_url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/sources/13-cfr-part-120"}],"related":[{"slug":"criminal-charge","term":"Criminal Charge","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/criminal-charge"},{"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":"Will a past criminal conviction prevent me from getting an SBA 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/will-a-past-criminal-conviction-prevent-me-from-getting-an-sba-7-a-loan"},{"question":"How does a past criminal conviction affect my ability to get an SBA 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/how-does-a-past-criminal-conviction-affect-my-ability-to-get-an-sba-7-a-loan"},{"question":"When can a criminal record or felony conviction render a borrower ineligible for an SBA 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/when-can-a-criminal-record-or-felony-conviction-render-a-borrower-ineligible-for-an-sba-7-"},{"question":"If I have a minor criminal conviction from many years ago, will it automatically disqualify me from an SBA loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/if-i-have-a-minor-criminal-conviction-from-many-years-ago-will-it-automatically-disqualify"},{"question":"What if I have a prior felony conviction on my record?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/what-if-i-have-a-prior-felony-conviction-on-my-record"},{"question":"Will a felony conviction prevent me from getting an SBA 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/will-a-felony-conviction-prevent-me-from-getting-an-sba-7-a-loan"}]},"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 — Criminal Conviction","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/criminal-conviction","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}