Every year, hundreds of thousands of people report identity theft in the United States. The government takes all accusations of ID theft very seriously and prosecutes defendants to the fullest extent of the law. Depending upon the circumstances, a person who is convicted of identity theft may be sentenced up to 30 years in prison.

Identity theft occurs when you knowingly and with the intent to defraud, assume the identity of someone else by acting like them or using their personal information. This is normally done by stealing a form of information that belongs to the victim, which may be a birth certificate, identification card, driver’s license, social security card, medical information, insurance information, banking information, credit card, passport, financial mail or any other type of information pertinent to a person’s identity.

Stolen identity information is often used to commit various types of financial fraud. Defendants in identity theft cases are often accused of incurring charges on fraudulent credit cards, taking out loans, or “building credit” on stolen personal information then filing for bankruptcy. Common identity theft charges include.

• Bank fraud – Includes diverting money from someone’s account, opening accounts in the names of third parties, depositing counterfeit checks, applying for loans, opening bank accounts
• Credit card fraud – Applying for credit cards as someone else and then running up charges
• Using stolen checks
• Internet fraud – Using personal information online.
• Online Credit Card Fraud – Using someone else’s credit to purchase items via the Internet.
• Social Security or Medicare Fraud – Applying for Medicare or Social Security in a third party’s name.
• Employment Fraud – Getting a job using a stolen name and identity.
• Bankruptcy fraud – Accruing debts and then filing for bankruptcy under another person’s name
• Travel and other immigration offenses – Using someone's identity to obtain a passport, travel to another country or remain in a country illegally.
• Identity Fraud – Using another person's Social Security card, driver's license, or identification card without his or her consent.

Identity Theft Legal Penalties

Identity theft is considered a criminal act under the California Penal Code section 530.55. This type of crime is considered a “wobbler,” which means the prosecutor could charge it as a misdemeanor or a felony depending on the type of illegal activity and the amount of money involved. If you are charged with committing identity theft in California, you could face steep fines, probation or even be sentenced to jail or prison time.

If charged as a Federal crime, you will face more severe penalties. Punishment for the crime of identity theft can result in a federal sentence of 5, 15, 20, or 30 years in a federal prison, community service, probation and harsh monetary fines.

Los Angeles Identity Theft Defense Attorneys

Identity theft is a crime which is harshly prosecuted throughout the U.S., by both state and federal government agencies. The Los Angeles criminal defense lawyers at The Chahine Law Firm understand the importance of protecting the rights of individuals who have been accused of identity theft. When you consult a Los Angeles identity theft defense attorney at our firm, we will review your particular charges with you in order to provide with the best result possible. If you have been charged with identity theft, call today for a free consultation and speak with an attorney.