United States v. Ron Pair Enterprises, Inc.

United States v. Ron Pair Enterprises, Inc. (1988) is a legal case that clarified how courts interpret "intent to defraud" in bankruptcy law. The Supreme Court held that for criminal fraud charges, the government must prove that the defendant intentionally deceived with a wrongful aim, such as causing loss or damage, not just that they made false statements. Essentially, it emphasized that criminal intent requires a specific wrongful purpose, guiding how courts distinguish between honest mistakes and fraudulent conduct in bankruptcy cases.