Did I miss someone passing a law saying cheating on a private exam is criminal?
In some cases, yes.
Example - Say you cheated on your exam and because of your higher scores you earn a scholarship based on your score. You defrauded the organization that provides the scholarship (besides preventing someone more deserving the chance to go to college).
As others have posted sometimes it is not the “crime” that gets you but the things done before or after (such as mail fraud or tax evasion)
The courts will decide if cheating is a crime
GREAT DECONSTRUCTION: Cheating on a private exam is criminal...in some cases. Example - Say you cheated on your exam and because of your higher scores you earn a scholarship based on your score. You defrauded the organization that provides the scholarship (besides preventing someone more deserving the chance to go to college).......sometimes it is not the crime that gets you but the things done before or after (such as mail fraud or tax evasion) The courts will decide if cheating is a crime.