Whoever, other than a public officer in the performance of his duty as such, maintains, causes to be maintained, conspires to maintain, or possesses any writing, paper, book, instrument or article used to record criminally usurious transactions, and who knows or has reasonable grounds to know that the contents record a criminally usurious transaction, is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be sentenced to pay a fine not exceeding two thousand, five hundred dollars ($2,500) or to undergo imprisonment not exceeding five (5) years, or both.