{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/serious-criminal-offense","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/serious-criminal-offense","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":"serious-criminal-offense","term":"Serious Criminal Offense","group":"People and paperwork","definition":"This refers to certain felonies or crimes of moral turpitude that can make a loan applicant ineligible for an SBA loan.","what_it_means":"If you or any key principal have a serious criminal offense on your record, it can prevent SBA loan approval, especially if it's a felony, a crime involving fraud, or if you're currently incarcerated or on probation/parole. The SBA uses a look-back period to assess eligibility, so be upfront about any past issues on Form 1919.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/serious-criminal-offense","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":"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":"felony","term":"Felony","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/felony"},{"slug":"misdemeanor","term":"Misdemeanor","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/misdemeanor"},{"slug":"supervised-release","term":"Supervised Release","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/supervised-release"},{"slug":"look-back-period","term":"Look-Back Period","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/look-back-period"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"What constitutes a 'serious criminal offense' that may cause 7(a) loan ineligibility for a principal?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/what-constitutes-a-serious-criminal-offense-that-may-cause-7-a-loan-ineligibility-for-a-pr"},{"question":"Can a minor past criminal offense prevent me from getting an SBA 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/can-a-minor-past-criminal-offense-prevent-me-from-getting-an-sba-7-a-loan"},{"question":"What specific types of prior criminal offenses are generally disqualifying for an SBA 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/what-specific-types-of-prior-criminal-offenses-are-generally-disqualifying-for-an-sba-7-a-"},{"question":"What specific types of criminal offenses are generally disqualifying for an SBA 7(a) loan applicant or owner?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/what-specific-types-of-criminal-offenses-are-generally-disqualifying-for-an-sba-7-a-loan-a"},{"question":"Can an arrest record without conviction for a minor offense affect my SBA 7(a) loan approval?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/can-an-arrest-record-without-conviction-for-a-minor-offense-affect-my-sba-7-a-loan-approva"},{"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"}]},"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 — Serious Criminal Offense","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/serious-criminal-offense","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}