{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/criminal-proceeding","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/criminal-proceeding","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-proceeding","term":"Criminal proceeding","group":"People and paperwork","definition":"This refers to any current or past legal action where you were accused of a crime. It's a critical red flag for SBA loan eligibility and character assessment.","what_it_means":"The SBA requires disclosure of all criminal history, including arrests, charges, and convictions, on Form 1919. Certain offenses, especially those involving fraud, embezzlement, or felony charges, can make you ineligible for an SBA loan. Be completely transparent; nondisclosure is a major issue.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/criminal-proceeding","official_sources":[{"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"},{"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":"form-1919","term":"Form 1919","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/form-1919"},{"slug":"felony","term":"Felony","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/felony"},{"slug":"fraud","term":"Fraud","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/fraud"},{"slug":"embezzlement","term":"Embezzlement","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/embezzlement"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"Can an SBA 7(a) loan be used to acquire a business that is currently in a bankruptcy proceeding?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/can-an-sba-7-a-loan-be-used-to-acquire-a-business-that-is-currently-in-a-bankruptcy-procee"},{"question":"Which criminal history issues commonly prevent SBA loan approval?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/which-criminal-history-issues-commonly-prevent-sba-loan-approval"},{"question":"How do criminal history issues commonly prevent SBA loan approval?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/how-do-criminal-history-issues-commonly-prevent-sba-loan-approval"},{"question":"What criminal history issues might prevent SBA 7(a) loan approval?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/what-criminal-history-issues-might-prevent-sba-7-a-loan-approval"},{"question":"What specific criminal history issues are automatic disqualifiers for SBA loan eligibility?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/what-specific-criminal-history-issues-are-automatic-disqualifiers-for-sba-loan-eligibility"},{"question":"Does the SBA check my personal background, like criminal history, for a loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/does-the-sba-check-my-personal-background-like-criminal-history-for-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 proceeding","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/criminal-proceeding","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}