Identity Theft
Identity theft is a rather common crime here in the United States. With so much personal information stored on the internet, identity thieves have been introduced to a new and, at times, easier way to perform this type of fraud against another individual. The US government has cracked down hard on identity thieves, and federal punishment for this crime has recently increased in severity.
If you have been accused of identity theft, then you will need a good criminal defense lawyer to protect you in court. The West Palm Beach criminal defense lawyers of Eric N. Klein & Associates, P.A. have the experience necessary to help you defend yourself.
What is identity theft?
There are an estimated 9 million cases of identity theft that occur each year in the United States. This crime is characterized by the illicit use of someone else’s personal identification information, such as a social security number, name, or credit card number. Identity theft may be committed in a number of different ways:
- Business identity theft – use of another’s business name to gain a false credit rating
- Financial identity theft – use of another’s name and funds to acquire goods and/or services
- Criminal identity theft – pretending to be another person to avoid criminal charges
- Medical identity theft – use of another person’s personal information to gain medical care or prescription drugs
- Identity cloning – taking on another person’s identity in daily life activities
Those charged with identity theft can be federally punished by a maximum of 5 years in prison alongside any other charges accrued due to the nature of the crime. On top of these penalties, state law may require additional punishment.
Contact Us
If you have been charged with identity theft, call the West Palm Beach criminal defense lawyers of Eric N. Klein & Associates, P.A. today at 561-353-2800 to speak with one of our attorneys about your situation.
