Have you been charged with Identity Theft in Greeley, Colorado? Identity Theft, also known as ID Theft, is knowingly using another person’s information, or identity to your benefit for something of value. It is also a crime just to possess this information with the intent to use it at some point. Below, our criminal defense lawyers discuss Identity Theft charges and what the law in Colorado states about these charges. If police are saying you have stolen someone’s Identity, let us help you. If you are facing charges in Fort Collins, you can get help here.
Legal Definition in Weld County of Identity Theft, C.R.S. 18-5-902
In Weld County the legal definition of Identity Theft, C.R.S. 18-5-902, is:
(a) Knowingly uses the personal identifying information, financial identifying information, or financial device of another without permission or lawful authority with the intent to obtain cash, credit, property, services, or any other thing of value or to make a financial payment;
(b) Knowingly possesses the personal identifying information, financial identifying information, or financial device of another without permission or lawful authority, with the intent to use or to aid or permit some other person to use such information or device to obtain cash, credit, property, services, or any other thing of value or to make a financial payment;
(c) With the intent to defraud, falsely makes, completes, alters, or utters a written instrument or financial device containing any personal identifying information or financial identifying information of another;
(d) Knowingly possesses the personal identifying information or financial identifying information of another without permission or lawful authority to use in applying for or completing an application for a financial device or other extension of credit; or
(e) Knowingly uses or possesses the personal identifying information of another without permission or lawful authority with the intent to obtain a government-issued document.
Examples of ID Theft in Greeley, Colorado
ID Theft, in Greeley, can be done in a lot of ways, However, some of the most common examples are:
- Using another person’s check, debit, or credit card without their consent to make a purchase
- You use another person’s information to complete forms to purchase something, open a credit card, or on an application
- Using another person’s information, you obtain government issued identification such as a driver’s license
- Altering a person’s financial devices or information in an attempt to defraud them
- A waiter takes a picture of a customer’s credit card when they are ringing up the bill
Simply put, possessing or using another person’s information or identification without their permission can have you facing ID Theft in Colorado.
Penalties and Sentence for Identification Theft Conviction in Weld County
If you are convicted of Identification Theft in Weld County and were in possession of another person’s identification or financial device (like a credit card number) with the intent to use it for financial purposes or used another person’s information for an application or to get a government ID then it is a class 2 misdemeanor. The penalties for a class 2 misdemeanor are 120 days in the Weld County Jail and up to $750 in fines. Other Identification Theft is a class 4 felony with penalties of 2-6 years in Colorado State Prison, a fine of $2,000-$500,000 and 3 years mandatory parole.
Why Hire a Top Eaton or Windsor, Colorado Lawyer, and Successful Defenses to ID Theft?
Having a knowledgeable top Eaton or Windsor lawyer can make all the difference in an Id Theft case. The lawyers at the O’Malley Law Office have years of experience with ID Theft laws and getting favorable outcomes in cases. Each criminal ID Theft case has different aspects to it, but some successful defenses are:
- You had that person’s permission to use their identification or financial devices
- You did not knowingly use another person’s information
- You were not the person who altered the information
- You did not intend to defraud anyone.
The lawyers at the O’Malley Office are aggressive and have over 30 years of combined experience in defending against Identity Theft.