The state of Illinois takes identity theft very seriously. For this reason, if you have been accused of, or charged with, identity theft, you must obtain legal representation.
Going over the significance of an identity theft conviction and speaking with an experienced criminal defense attorney will allow you to obtain the best possible legal outcome.
You can click here to learn more about why working with an experienced Chicago criminal defense lawyer is so important when facing serious criminal charges.
Watch Attorney Thomas T. Glasgow discuss the importance of having an experienced criminal defense attorney on your side on YouTube and TikTok.
What Is Identity Theft?
The term “identity theft” refers to fraud committed using another person’s identifying information.
Just as an example, if someone takes your social security number and then uses it to set up several credit cards that they max out, this would be considered identity theft.
Some of the different types of “identifying information” that can be used for identity theft are as follows:
- Someone’s social security number.
- Someone’s credit card information.
- Someone’s bank account PIN.
- Someone’s ID or Passport number.
- Someone’s birth certificate.
If someone uses any of the above to intentionally defraud, they can be charged with identity theft. This charge can be levied at the state level and the Federal level, depending on the facts underlying a particular identity theft case.
What Are The Penalties For Identity Theft?
The penalties for identity theft in the state of Illinois are as follows:
- If the value of the fraud was less than $300, you can receive a prison sentence of one to four years.
- If the value of the fraud was $300 to $2,0000, you can receive a prison sentence of two to five years.
- If the value of the fraud was $2,000 to $20,000, you can receive a prison sentence of three to seven years.
- If the value of the fraud was $10,000 to $100,000, you can receive a prison sentence of four to fifteen years.
- If the value of the fraud was over $100,000, you can receive a prison sentence of six to thirty years.
No matter the facts of a particular identity theft case, the state of Illinois charges it as a felony. This is why an identity theft conviction of any sort almost always leads to prison time.
Outside of the above, the Federal penalties for identity theft can lead to a prison sentence of up to fifteen years. And this can increase if identity theft is used for drug trafficking or terrorism, among other possibilities.
Given the facts outlined above, if you have been accused of identity theft, legal representation is a necessity.
By clicking here, you can learn even more about why working with an experienced defense attorney when facing criminal charges is paramount.
Get Qualified Legal Help Today
If you need representation for an identity theft charge, Glasgow & Olsson is uniquely qualified to help you.
Our team has helped thousands of people who have been charged with crimes in Illinois. When we take cases, we do so to win. This means we take cases to trial. We don’t arrange plea bargains unless it is in the best interest of our clients. As proactive lawyers, we fight aggressively and support our clients throughout their entire case up to and including appeals.
Protecting your life and freedom is always the goal, and with our decades of experience practicing law, we know how to get results. This is why we are regularly invited to appear as a legal contributor on popular radio and news outlets, including ABC, CNN, NBC, CBS, and Fox NEWS.
When you need an attorney, experience matters. Speak with a Chicago defense attorney today to learn how our experience can get you the results you deserve.