Criminal Impersonation

In Colorado, criminal impersonation is either a class 6 felony or class 1 or two misdemeanor. Convictions of this crime can have adverse consequences that may affect other areas of your life.

Criminal Impersonation happens when a person falsely assumes an identity that does not belong to them. An example of a theoretical criminal impersonation charge involves a defendant using someone else’s debit or credit card without permission while also pretending to be that person. Criminal impersonation may also involve pretending to marry someone, becoming surety for someone else, or committing acts intended to defraud someone else with intent to benefit. A common example is that If you were pulled over by the police, and gave someone else’s name and birthday to the officer because you had a warrant out for your arrest, that would be criminal impersonation.

Have you been charged with criminal impersonation in Colorado? If so, you should know that the potential consequences of criminal impersonation convictions are serious. As such, it is important to understand your rights. Moreover, you should have a criminal impersonation lawyer on your side of the law. Your attorney will work to help you protect your freedom, rights, assets, and reputation! Koziel & Lehr Law LLC is here to help you with criminal impersonation charges in Colorado. Our skilled Criminal Defense & Family Law Attorneys have seen many similar cases and have experience navigating the complicated court processes in Colorado.

Criminal impersonation is defined by C.R.S. 18-5-113. This crime concerns individuals pretending to be other people and then acting in ways that may have legal repercussions. If you married someone, filed legal documents, signed a ticket, or engaged in some other type of similar conduct while pretending to be another person, you could face severe legal consequences. A felony conviction is possible, which could have severe implications for you in the short and long term.

In many cases, criminal impersonation charges are also coupled with other charges including fraud, theft, forgery, and so on. In Colorado, criminal impersonation is also closely related to identity theft. Identity theft is a crime that involves larger-scale deceptive actions involving assuming someone else’s identity for financial gain. § 18-5-902.

Another closely associated charge is the unauthorized use of a financial transaction device, § 18-5-702. A financial transaction device could be a debit card, credit card, mobile banking application, checkbook, or other monetary device. When someone uses a credit or debit card that isn’t theirs while also pretending to be the owner of that card, these two charges may be applied.

Yes, this is a crime that involves something called moral turpitude. This phrase describes deviant behavior that is deemed unethical, immoral, or unjust. Moral turpitude represents a departure from acceptable social standards required to mesh with others in a community or social setting.

With this in mind, criminal impersonation convictions can upset the process of your green card, visa, or immigration application. Additionally, a conviction of criminal impersonation may prevent you from showing that you have good character. Good character is necessary in many cases for those seeking citizenship in the United States. It could even lead to deportation out of the country.

Charges of this nature are serious and can negatively impact your ability to find housing, a job, and more.

If you become a felon due to this charge, you may have a hard time doing things like:

• Passing a background check
• Getting a loan through a bank or other lending institutions
• Carrying a firearm
• Voting

Even if you have committed a crime of criminal impersonation, consult with your criminal impersonation defense attorney. Your lawyer will advise you and give you legal guidance that applies to your unique situation. Otherwise, you could wind up taking a plea that will have negative consequences on your future.

Criminal impersonation convictions can carry sentences involving incarceration or probation. In Colorado, this crime may be a class 6 felony, it is punishable by 12-18 months in the department of corrections. With either of these felony convictions, you may also serve time on probation, pay a fine, and complete community service. It may also be a class one or two misdemeanor. The class 1 misdemeanor carries up to 364 days in jail and the class two carries up to 120 days in jail.

False reporting to the authorities involves lying about who you are if stopped by the police. If you are stopped by the police in Colorado, do not lie about who you are. Even a simple mistake like reporting the wrong birthday or intentionally misspelling your name can land you with a misdemeanor charge based on C.R.S 18-8-111.

Criminal cases involving crimes of impersonation or false reporting can become complex quickly. As such, it is wise to hire an experienced defense attorney to assist you as you navigate through the Colorado court system.

Your attorney will help you devise a sound mitigation and defense strategy. Your criminal defense lawyer will also do everything they can to minimize the charges, ramifications, and penalties for the crime of criminal impersonation.

Call the Colorado Criminal Impersonation Lawyers at Call Koziel & Lehr Law LLC Now!

In many cases, experienced attorneys have been able to help their clients get charges of this kind dropped. Our criminal defense practice has dealt with cases similar to yours. We have experienced attorneys who have seen successful outcomes for clients with charges of fraud, impersonation, and more.

If you are facing charges of Criminal Impersonation in Denver, Arapahoe County, Douglas County, Larimer County, Aurora, call the Colorado Criminal Impersonation Lawyers at (720) 314-8750 for assistance.