Thread: Just something I found interesting.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dy ... ge=printer

House OKs More Jail Time for ID Thieves

By David McGuirewashingtonpost.com Staff Writer
Wednesday, June 23, 2004; 5:30 PM

Criminals who steal sensitive personal data such as Social Security and credit card numbers while committing other crimes could get five extra years tacked onto the jail sentences under legislation approved today by the House of Representatives.

The Identity Theft Penalty Enhancement Act creates a new kind of crime, "aggravated identity theft," making it a felony to use stolen identities as part of committing other crimes. Most felons already sentenced to jail would get an extra two years for identity theft. They could get an additional five years for using stolen identities as part of committing a terrorist offense.

The bill is similar to legislation that the Senate approved in 2003, but adds a new section targeting "insiders" who steal personal data from their fellow employees.

Rep. John Carter (R-Texas), sponsor of the House bill, said in an interview that current penalties are not strong enough to deter "epidemic" levels of identity theft in the United States.

"Insufficient legislation and prosecution has allowed a situation to arise where identities are easy to steal without fear of reprisal," Carter said. "Last year, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security warned that would-be terrorists may try to use stolen IDs, uniforms or vehicles to enter sensitive facilities to plan or carry out an attack."

Jim Vaules, a vice president at Lexis-Nexis who specializes in identity theft issues, said the bill could be valuable if prosecutors try to take advantage of it.

"Anything that's passed that draws attention to identity fraud is a positive," Vaules said. "Is it going to significantly impact the number of identity fraud cases we have? Probably not. But it adds another tool for the government if they want to use it."

http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/Southwest/02 ... index.html
Reporter charged with trespassing
Tuesday, February 25, 2003 Posted: 7:53 PM EST (0053 GMT)

MESA, Arizona (AP) -- A newspaper reporter has been charged with criminal trespassing after attempting to interview a fired policeman at his home about a deadly shooting.

Bryon Wells, a police reporter for the East Valley Tribune, went to the home of former Chandler officer Dan Lovelace on November 6., a week before Lovelace was indicted on a second-degree murder charge in the on-duty shooting of a woman.

Wells told police he went to Lovelace's home to ask about the October 11 shooting. Wells opened a 3-foot-high gate with a "No Trespassing" sign and rang the doorbell. He identified himself to a woman who came from the side of the house, and left when she asked him to leave, the newspaper said.

Chandler police forwarded the case to the Scottsdale prosecutor's office, which filed the charge.

"With charges pending, I don't want to get too deeply into the case, but the fact the yard was fenced and there was a posted no-trespassing sign was a significant factor," Scottsdale City Attorney David Pennartz said.

The Tribune's attorney, Dan Barr, said Wells was simply doing his job.

"This is the sort of thing reporters do," Barr said. The woman "did not want to comment, and he left. It seems to me someone should apply some reason here and perspective to what this all is."

If convicted, Wells could face up to six months in jail and a $2,500 fine.

These are old articles...I just found it interesting with the current proposal (Bill) there trying to pass now (AMNESTY)...So if you are "ILLEGAL" what "Identity" did you have to take to work here !!!!

Now remember citizens if you do this you are going to sit behind bars. "YEARS". IF you are "ILLEGAL" you get a instant "GET OUT OF JAIL FREE CARD".. As well as red carpet treatment for others to join you. In your new found life, footed by the AMERICAN PEOPLE.

Good point!

Many of these potential amnesty recipents are ID thieves!

Dixie

Yeah, millions of them are using someone else's identity, but this bill will make them exempt from prosecution. That was my complaint right from the git go, because if they come forward they are forgiven for those kind of crimes. I can't remember which Senator tried to introduce an amendment to prosecute them, but it was shot down. Kennedy said, they wouldn't come out of the shadows if they knew they were going to be arrested.

THEY'RE NOT GOING TO COME OUT OF THE SHADOWS, ANYWAY, YOU KNOTHEAD, KENNEDY!

But you can bet, Americans will still be prosecuted for committing this crime, as they should be, but let's make it fair.

And something else I wanted to add to my rantings. If they eliminate all the ones who committed crimes from the legalization pile, they wouldn't have many left to deal with, because I think they already know that a large percentage of the illegals have got criminal records. That's why they didn't pass the amendment to allow State and Federal Law Enforcement to share info.

Seems to me the criminals are the ones working on this bill.