Los Angeles Criminal Lawyer Blog

Several news sources including the La Canada Flintridge Patch have reported that identity theft - including Los Angeles identity theft - is growing throughout the nation. In order to combat this growing threat, the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department has released several tips on how you can protect yourself from identity theft.

With the growing concern of identity theft comes an increased effort to crack down on accusations of ID theft and prosecuting defendants to the fullest extent of the law. A person convicted of identity theft may face up to 30 years in prison. As a result - if you are targeted as a suspect in an identity theft crack down - it is important to contact an experienced Los Angeles criminal defense attorney to protect your rights and provide you the defense you need.

At the same time, some tips to protect yourself from becoming a victim of identity theft include:
• Accurate use of your personal identification information such as your proper name, Social Security number, credit card number and other financial account information;
• Review you credit report from the three major credit bureaus each year;
• Review you statements and closed unused accounts;
• Don't give away personal information over the phone, mail or internet unless you know who you are dealing with;
• Disconnect your laptop from a broadband or a shared connection
• Don't carry your Social security card or PIN number in your wallet in case you lose it.

Continue reading "Los Angeles Identity Theft Growing In Frequency" »

Five people, including residents of Los Angeles, Corona, and Oceanside have been found guilty in an LA phishing scheme. The scheme involved using spam e-mails to obtain bank account information from customers. The accused then used this information to transfer money into fraudulent accounts.

The 5 people convicted were found guilty of bank fraud, computer theft and identify fraud. The two men and three women were charged as part of operation "Phish Phry," a U.S.-Egyptian investigation that resulted in charges against 100 people.

If you are facing any California criminal charges or federal criminal charges, contact an experienced Los Angeles criminal defense attorney immediately to begin investigating your case and preparing your defense.

Many times, when numerous people are charged with crimes as the result of a large scale investigation, innocent people are swept up in the arrests, and the prosecution may misperceive the nature and extent of any one individual's involvement.

Continue reading "5 Los Angeles Area Residents Convicted In Identity Theft And Bank Fraud Scheme" »

The Burbank Leader reports that more than 70 people were charged Wednesday in Los Angeles County in connection with "Operation Power Outage," a federal takedown of an alleged organized crime ring. At least 19 of the suspects lived in Glendale and 6 in Burbank. The individuals arrested were part of the gang "Armenian Power," and were charged with kidnapping, bank fraud, identity theft, extortion and drug trafficking.

If you are facing federal charges, contact an experienced Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer at once to protect your rights and begin preparing your defense.

Included in the indictments were allegations that one man installed a credit card skimming devices at 99 Cents Only stores to obtain customer account information and that 2 Glendale residents kidnapped others for ransom. The government takes these charges very seriously - penalties include significant jail time, probation and harsh monetary fines.

Continue reading "Glendale Identity Theft Crackdown Leads To Dozens Of Arrests" »

This past week a Los Angeles man and women were arrested on suspicion of car jacking, identity theft and weapons charges. According to the San Gabriel Valley Tribune, the two were arrested after found driving a stolen car with loaded handguns and evidence of identity theft.

If convicted with these California crimes, they face serious penalties.

In California, car-jacking is considered first-degree robbery and a "strike" under California's "Three Strikes" Law. Under the "three strikes" laws these convictions significantly enhance future sentences and punishment. First-degree robbery convictions carry with them a potential punishment of 3 to 9 years in state prison.

Identity theft occurs when someone knowingly and with the intent to defraud assumes the identity of someone else by acting like him or her or using his or her personal information. Here, reports indicate that they were carrying items related to ID theft such as "documents in the names of other people." Identity theft is considered a "wobbler," which means the prosecutor could charge it as a misdemeanor of felony depending on the type of illegal activity and the amount involved.

Continue reading "Two Arrested In Pico Rivera Auto, Identity Theft And Weapons Charges" »

3 men from the Los Angeles area are charged with felony identity theft and conspiracy for skimming ATM and credit cards at gas station pumps in the Sacramento area.

Identity theft is considered a criminal act under California Penal Code Section 530.55 and is charged as either a felony or misdemeanor depending on the type of legal activity and the amount of money involved.

Here, the men allegedly used keys to unlock various gas pumps, inserted an electronic device which recorded ATM and credit card data and used this information to create phony cards and withdraw funds from victims' accounts. In total, the 3 men are accused of stealing $160,000 from about 200 people. Because of the amount of money involved and the number of people possibly affected, they have been charged with a felony. The penalties involved may include fines, probation and possibly even jail time.

Continue reading "3 Los Angeles Men Charged With Identity Theft" »