Colorado Law
Impersonations to be fraudulent is illegal. In the state of Colorado, code CRS 18-5-113 claims that creating a fictitious or false identity to unlawfully gain benefit for oneself or others is considered to be criminal impersonation.
Although the laws vary from state to state, criminal impersonations could include impersonating a relative, friend, or neighbor. Impersonating a lawyer, police officer, mail carrier, nurse, doctor, or any other person or professional could also be considered a crime under CRS 18-5-113. Criminal impersonation is also referred to as false impersonation or false personation.
Examples of Criminal Impersonation
Criminal impersonation can extend beyond impersonating someone for the benefit of yourself or others. Unfortunately, false impersonations can be used for the sole purpose to harm others as well. Below are several examples of false personation:
- Falsely signing any legal document
- Falsely pretending to be a representative of an organization or person
- Getting married to someone when you are still legally married to someone else
- Opening a bank account, credit card, or apply for a loan under false identity
- Impersonating anyone or any professional
Pretending to be someone you’re not can have significant legal consequences. If you falsely impersonate someone to harm others, or to benefit yourself, you can expect criminal charges.
Legal Repercussions of Criminal Impersonations
Misrepresentations and false identities are considered to be a serious crime in Colorado. Criminal impersonation infractions are deemed to be crimes of moral turpitude and can be charged as a class 6 felony (F6). Impersonating someone is illegal, and if found guilty, consequences could include jail time from 1 to 3 years and fines from $1,000 to $100,000. In addition to possible jail time and fines, Colorado law has mandated a one-year parole on criminal impersonation violations.
Beyond legal consequences, criminal impersonation convictions can negatively affect your personal life long after you pay fines and serve possible jail time and probation. Felony charges on your permanent record for false personation can affect future educational, housing, and employment opportunities. For optimal results, seek a qualified criminal defense attorney if you are facing criminal impersonation charges.
Legal Counsel for False Impersonation
Professional legal assistance is vital if you have been charged with false personation. In a court of law, it is not uncommon for criminal impersonations to be associated or combined with other similar crimes such as fraud, theft, and forgery. If you have been accused of false personation or similar crimes, having the right qualified criminal defense attorney can make a difference in your outcome.
Misrepresentations can sometimes be misunderstandings. Securing a lawyer that can represent you and your specific situation is important, so reach out to the law offices of M. Colin Bresee for a free consultation. The sooner you seek help for your legal concerns the better. Mr. Bresee and his competent staff can confidently guide you through the necessary legal process of being charged with criminal impersonation.