St. Louis Identity Theft Attorney
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Facing Charges for Identity Theft? We Understand GOOD People Make Mistakes. We’re here to help you fix them — W. Scott Rose will give your case the Undivided Attention it Deserves.
With growing accessibility to mobile devices and the internet, identity theft has become a trending topic across the US. Identity theft is the act of stealing someone’s identity and using it unlawfully. We see these charges resulting from many different circumstances—stolen IDs, using a fake ID, phishing, mail theft, etc.
Because of the increasing frequency of these types of crimes, state prosecutors treat them very seriously.
Identity theft cases can also be complicated by other criminal activities, like stealing, forgery, and white-collar crimes. If you face charges for identity theft, you should seek legal representation immediately. Our professional team has extensive experience handling criminal defense cases in the St. Louis area.
Trust a St. Louis identity theft attorney at Rose Legal Services to help minimize your charges and get you the most favorable outcome for your case — Get started with a FREE consultation.
IDENTITY THEFT IN ST. LOUIS
Identity Theft in St. Louis
Identity theft is becoming an increasingly prevalent crime. Prosecutors are pursuing these charges under the belief that the defendant intentionally attempted to use, or used, another person’s identification that was not lawfully obtained— for their use.
If the crimes result in a financial loss for the victim, the penalties can range from misdemeanor charges and up to 1 year in county jail to serious felony charges with up to 15 years in prison.
Identity Theft
To convict a person of this offense, the State must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant:
Knowingly, with the intent to deceive or defraud; obtained, possessed, transferred, used, or attempted to obtain, transfer, or use; one or more means of identification; and just identification was not lawfully issued.
Identity theft is considered a Class B misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in county jail and fines of up to $1,000.
Identity Theft – Resulting in Loss
To convict you of this offense, the State must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant:
- Knowingly, with the intent to deceive or defraud; obtained, possessed, transferred, used, or attempted to obtain, transfer, or use; one or more means of identification; and just identification was not lawfully issued.
- Appropriated credit, money, goods, services, or other property from another person.
Identity theft (resulting in a loss) is considered a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in county jail and fines of up to $2,000.
Identity Theft – Resulting in Loss of $750 or More
To convict you of this offense, the State must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant:
- Knowingly, with the intent to deceive or defraud; obtained, possessed, transferred, used, or attempted to obtain, transfer, or use; one or more means of identification; and just identification was not lawfully issued.
- Appropriated credit, money, goods, services, or other property from another person.
- The appropriated property is valued at $750 or more.
Identity theft (resulting in a loss of $750 or more) is considered a Class D felony punishable by up to seven years in prison and fines of up to $10,000.
Identity Theft – Resulting in Loss of $25,000 or More
To convict you of this offense, the State must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant:
- Knowingly, with the intent to deceive or defraud; obtained, possessed, transferred, used, or attempted to obtain, transfer, or use; one or more means of identification; and just identification was not lawfully issued.
- Appropriated credit, money, goods, services, or other property from another person.
- The appropriated property is valued at $25,000 or more.
Identity theft (resulting in a loss of $25,000 or more) is considered a Class C felony punishable by a minimum of three to a maximum of 10 years in county jail and fines of up to $10,000.
Identity Theft – Resulting in Loss of $75,000 or More
To convict you of this offense, the State must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant:
- Knowingly, with the intent to deceive or defraud; obtained, possessed, transferred, used, or attempted to obtain, transfer, or use; one or more means of identification; and just identification was not lawfully issued.
- Appropriated credit, money, goods, services, or other property from another person.
- The appropriated property is valued at $75,000 or more.
Identity theft (resulting in a loss of $75,000 or more) is considered a Class B felony punishable by a minimum of five to a maximum of 15 years in prison.
Is Credit Card Fraud the Same as Identity Theft?
Although credit card fraud and identity theft often overlap, they are different charges. Credit card fraud focuses on the use of the device. In such a case, the State alleges that the defendant used a debit or credit card for goods or services, knowing they were not authorized to do so.
In an identity theft case, however, the focus is on how the defendant obtained the device. Where did the card come from? How was it acquired?
It includes using another person’s identity to:
- Clone a credit card
- Open a line of credit or credit card accounts
- Get a new loan in a victim’s name
Identity theft cases involving cloned credit cards or fraudulent lines of credit are generally charged as identity theft and will result in more significant penalties.
What to Do If You’ve Been Accused of Identity Theft
If you’ve been accused of identity theft in St. Louis, be prepared to enforce your rights as an American citizen.
Always remember:
- You have the right to remain silent. You can provide basic information like your name and date of birth to law enforcement. Beyond that, you can “plead the fifth” and remain silent to avoid potentially providing self-incriminating evidence.
- You have the right to an attorney. You ALWAYS have the right to legal counsel to defend you in a court of law.
- Contact a St. Louis Identity Theft Attorney ASAP. They will immediately work on building zealous representation for you while providing sound advice to help you move forward in your case in the best way possible. Whether you plead innocent or guilty, find out your options before you go to trial.
Find the Best St. Louis Identity Theft Attorney for Your Case
Look for an attorney that takes your future as seriously as YOU DO. Experienced in various criminal defense cases—including stealing, property damage, and weapons charges—Rose Legal Services will work hard to get you the best possible results.
Let’s start your case off with a free consultation, take the time to thoroughly review and inspect your case, and create a STRONG defense.
St. Louis Identity Theft Attorney
Are you facing identity theft charges in St. Louis? Take legal action today.
Rose Legal Services exclusively defends clients against criminal charges and identity theft charges in St. Louis County, St. Louis City, and surrounding areas.
With more than 20 years of experience, you can rest assured we will work tirelessly and aggressively to defend you in a court of law:
- Immediate & effective representation
- Flat-fee criminal law firm
- Get the UNDIVIDED ATTENTION your case needs
- Take legal action TODAY
- All Cases begin with a FREE consultation
You must retain a St. Louis identity theft attorney as soon as possible to help protect your freedom. Whether this is a first-time offense or you’ve been charged before, we can help you get the best possible results in your identity theft case.
You must retain a St. Louis identity theft attorney as soon as possible to help protect your freedom. Whether this is a first-time offense or you’ve been charged before, we can help you get the best possible results in your identity theft case.
FAQ: St. Louis Identity Theft
Identity theft charges should be treated very seriously. With the increasing trend of identity theft in the US, some prosecutors are cracking down on these crimes. A lawyer will strategize with you throughout the legal process. They will protect your rights and provide the representation you need to get the best possible outcome.
One of the most common forms of identity theft is financial identity theft. Using another person’s information for financial gain, for instance, using another person’s credit card information to steal money or make purchases. Financial identity theft could also include fraudulently setting up new accounts, opening lines of credit, etc. Medical identity theft is less common but still important, which involves using your information to submit false claims to healthcare providers.
Many different types of personal information are used in identity theft cases:
- Social security number
- Phone number
- Date/location of birth
- Government ID numbers
- Credit card numbers
- Bank account information