What is aggravated identity theft?

Aggravated identity theft is a federal crime in the United States that involves the unauthorized use of another person's identity to commit a crime. It is considered aggravated when the offense is committed in connection with other crimes such as drug trafficking, terrorism, or immigration violations.

Under the Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act of 1998, penalties for aggravated identity theft include mandatory minimum sentences that must be served consecutively to any other sentences for related crimes. This means that a person convicted of aggravated identity theft will receive an additional sentence on top of any sentence imposed for the underlying criminal offense.

Aggravated identity theft is a serious offense that can result in significant penalties, including fines and imprisonment. It is important for individuals to be vigilant about protecting their personal information and to report any instances of identity theft to law enforcement authorities as soon as possible.