Recent cases indicate that federal courts are emphasizing the severity of identity theft by imposing significant prison sentences. In a recent osOpinion column about identity theft, the writer intimated that cops and legislators are "deaf to the cries of [identity theft] victims," and pointedly asked, "When will we begin to see the identity thieves behind bars?". . .
Recent cases indicate that federal courts are emphasizing the severity of identity theft by imposing significant prison sentences. In a recent osOpinion column about identity theft, the writer intimated that cops and legislators are "deaf to the cries of [identity theft] victims," and pointedly asked, "When will we begin to see the identity thieves behind bars?"

Recent events show that law enforcement's and legislatures' hearing has gotten a lot sharper, and that law enforcement is already getting good at catching and putting identity thieves in prison.

On May 2nd, Attorney General John Ashcroft announced a nationwide sweep of federal identity theft cases, including 73 criminal prosecutions of 135 individuals in 24 judicial districts. The crimes involved in these cases ranged from old-fashioned fraud to murder.

One defendant allegedly found and killed a homeless man so he could fake his own death and avoid prosecution for counterfeiting. Defendants in other cases included people who located houses owned by elderly citizens and assumed their identities so they could fraudulently sell or refinance the properties.

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