14 Sep Facing Jail Time in Arizona for Credit Card Fraud
Making purchases on a credit card that’s in another person’s name qualifies as credit card fraud in Arizona, and the state is quite severe on this matter. According to Arizona law, credit card fraud carries identity theft charges.
Arizona Identity Theft Laws
Using the name, driver’s license, social security number, bank account information, or credit card information of anyone other than yourself is illegal. Even if the misrepresentation occured online, it is still illegal.
Unless express permission is given, using another person’s personal identity information—including their credit card—is not allowed. Whether the credit card information was stolen or obtained in another way, Arizona’s laws are clear. If you use another person’s credit card without permission, you’ll be charged with identity theft.
Actions that count as breaking identity theft laws in Arizona include:
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- Signing up for credit cards with someone else’s information
- Getting a loan on a vehicle in another person’s name
- Receiving medical services using another person’s insurance card
- Make purchases using someone else’s funds
- Credit card fraud
- Forging a signature on a check
- Withdrawing funds from an account
- Transferring funds from one account to another
Identity theft is a Class 4 felony in Arizona and can carry a prison sentence up to 2.5 years. However, identity theft cases often deal with additional charges like fraud, forgery, or impersonation. Depending on the additional charges, there may be additional jail time included in the sentence.
Jail Time for Credit Card Fraud in Arizona
Jail time, or prison time, can be given to anyone found guilty of credit card fraud. Jail time for credit card fraud in Arizona is usually about six months for first-time offenders. Fraudulent use of a credit card is a Class 1 misdemeanor only when the amount obtained was less than $250. However, the more aggravated the offense, the more harsh the punishment will be.
When an amount over $250 (not exceeding $1,000) is stolen through credit card fraud, the offense jumps up to a Class 6 felony. If the illegal purchases are over a grand, things become much more drastic and complicated. Prison time could come into the picture for large amounts. Grand theft is a felony charge that carries the weight of 1.5 years behind bars. If you couple that with an identity theft charge, the total prison time could be 4 years.
Defense Attorneys for Identity Theft in Scottsdale
It is possible for innocent offenders to be accused, or for a person to be charged with identity theft after making an honest mistake. No matter what your reason for needing a defense attorney, contact Todd Coolidge in Chander, AZ. With decades of experience and hundreds of successful criminal defense cases, you’ll be in the best of hands. If you’re facing identity theft charges, let us know right away.
photo by TheDigitalWay from Pixabay.com on 9/14/2021 | used under the creative commons license | no changes made