In New Jersey, many criminal allegations stem from activities that people do not realize are overt violations of the law or are behaviors they believe are harmless. Younger people, especially college students who are away from home for the first time, can be vulnerable to these types of alleged acts.
What people fail to realize is that white collar crimes like identity theft carry with them harsh penalties. In some instances, the consequences are far worse than accusations that they stole or that they committed acts of violence. Being aware of how impersonation and identity theft occurs and what the ramifications might be is crucial to understanding the charges and forging a comprehensive and effective defense.
Identity theft penalties
Anyone who impersonates another to derive some form of benefit or to do damage to another person can be charged with identity theft. The same is true if they act as if they are representing another person or an organization to achieve the same result. Misleading statements, orally or in written form, to obtain services could result in charges. Finally, impersonating another to avoid paying fees or for services also qualifies as a violation under this statute.
The value of the services or items that were accrued as a result of the impersonation of another will dictate the severity of the charges. If it is worth less than $500, it is a fourth degree offense. Doing it more than once raises it to a third degree offense. If it is worth more than $500 but less than $75,000 or there are at least two but fewer than five victims, it is a third degree offense. If it is $75,000 or more or there are at least five victims, it is a second degree offense.
Something as innocuous as using a fellow college student’s identity to get a discount can lead to charges. It can also be something larger like an automobile or a place to live. When there are accusations of identity theft, it is imperative to remember how serious the penalties can be.
In addition to jail time and fines, it can result in a blot on the person’s record and prevent them from getting certain types of employment and in achieving other goals. Knowing how law enforcement assesses these cases, what prosecutors might do and the granular details of what the law says are key parts of a criminal defense. There are avenues to avoid long-term consequences, but it is vital to act quickly and to get qualified advice.