Massachusetts General Laws Part IV. Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases (Ch. 263-280) Ch. 266, § 92

Whoever wilfully and with intent to defraud makes or publishes, or causes or permits to be made or published in any way whatever, any book, prospectus, notice, report, statement, exhibit, advertisement or other publication of or concerning the affairs, financial condition, property or assets of any corporation, joint stock association, partnership or individual, which said book, prospectus, notice, report, statement, exhibit, advertisement or other publication contains any statement which is false or wilfully exaggerated and which shall have a tendency to give a less or greater apparent value to the shares, bonds, property or assets of such corporation, joint stock association, partnership or individual, or any part of said shares, bonds, property or assets, than said shares, bonds, property or assets or any part thereof shall really and in fact possess, shall be punished by a fine of not more than five thousand dollars or by imprisonment for not more than ten years, or both.