Is Identity Theft Also Considered A Crime Under Maryland Law?
Not surprisingly, it is a crime to obtain the personal identifying information of another with the purpose of obtaining something of value in the name of that other person. Criminal defense attorneys Attorney Eric T. Kirk in Baltimore have seen that personal identifying information is defined very broadly, and includes things like:
- where you work
- and your mother’s maiden name.
It is also a crime to take on the identity of another to avoid getting arrested or the obligation to pay a debt. If you employ identity fraud to obtain something of value worth $500 or less, you face 18 months. Criminal defense lawyers in Baltimore know the price goes up if the goods fraudulently obtained are worth more than $500. Then you face 5 years. Identity theft can be punished separately from any crime that forms the basis of the statutory section. Many judges tend to view theft and fraud-related crimes harshly and punish offenders accordingly. A conviction for a crime involving theft and deception can have lifelong collateral consequences.