A. No person shall make, publish, disseminate or circulate, directly or indirectly, or aid, abet, counsel, procure or encourage the making, publishing, disseminating, transmission or circulation to another, of any oral or written statement or any pamphlet, circular, article or literature which is false, or maliciously critical of, or derogatory as to financial condition or otherwise as to an insurer or organization proposing to become an insurer, and which is calculated to injure such insurer, or proposed insurer, or any person engaged or proposing to engage in any of the business of or with an insurer.
B. Any person who violates this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and is subject to the penalties prescribed by Section 18 [ 59A-1-18 NMSA 1978] (general penalty) of the Insurance Code.