DC Federal Identity Theft Lawyer

Identity theft is a serious charge and if you have been accused of misusing another person’s identity information, you can benefit from immediately consulting a DC federal criminal lawyer. Federal identity theft offenses are handled in federal court, and you will need to work with an experienced DC federal identity theft lawyer who is admitted to federal court and understands the nuances unique to federal identity theft investigations.

Identity theft is defined under the Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act by Congress in 1998 as wrongfully obtaining another person’s identity information without their consent, when the person accessing the information has the intent to use it in a fraudulent or criminal manner or for theft or monetary gain.

Identity Information

The type of information that can be used to commit identity theft or fraud includes all kinds of personally identifying information, such as names, birth dates, social security numbers, addresses, bank account and credit card numbers, telephone numbers – including cell phone information – vital information, such as birth, death and marriage records, passport and driver’s license information, and even passwords and log-in data.

Technology and Identity Theft

Technological advances have further expanded the realm of information that could be used to commit identity theft, as well as the manner in which such information can be wrongfully collected. Things like iris scans, digital fingerprint records, biometric data and electronic health care records can all be used to steal a person’s identity.

With increased advances in technology also come increased opportunities for electronic mistakes to be made, however. If someone believes they are facing identity theft charges due to a mistake or technological error, their conduct may not meet the legal threshold for convicting a person of federal identity theft, since it requires prosecutors to establish that the accused intended to wrongfully obtain the information and use it improperly. Their DC federal identity theft lawyer can argue before the court that they lacked the requisite intent to commit identity theft.

Potential Penalties

Because the financial, legal and personal ramifications for an identity theft victim can be so serious and long-lasting, federal law takes a very strict approach to identity theft. The severity of penalties can depend on the type of information wrongfully obtained, the amount of monetary gains made as a result of the identity theft, and whether the information was used as a part of a larger identity theft scheme or drug trafficking, violent crime or terrorism. Someone’s DC federal identity theft lawyer can explain the specific penalties their client may be facing.

Federal identity theft involving the use or counterfeiting of government-issued identification carries a penalty of up to 15 years in prison in addition to hefty fines. Identity theft involved in drug trafficking, violent crime, or more than one offense can increase the penalty to a potential 20 years in prison, while identity theft used to bolster international or domestic terrorism carries an enhanced penalty of up to 30 years in prison.

Consult a Lawyer

Being unfairly investigated or accused of a federal crime, especially when you never had any intent to defraud anyone, can being frightening and stressful. Our DC federal identity theft attorneys have experience fighting identity theft charges in federal court and understand that you have a lot at stake, personally, professionally and financially. If you are facing identity theft charges in federal court, our DC federal identity theft lawyers can be by your side throughout the entire legal process.