Indiana § 35-43-5-3.5 - Identity deception

§ 35-43-5-3.5. Identity deception

Sec. 3.5. (a) Except as provided in subsection (c),

a person who, with intent to harm or defraud another person, knowingly or intentionally obtains, possesses, transfers, or uses identifying information to profess to be another person, commits identity deception, a Level 6 felony.

(b) However, the offense defined in subsection (a) is a Level 5 felony if:

(1) a person obtains, possesses, transfers, or uses the identifying information of more than one hundred (100) persons;

(2) the fair market value of the fraud or harm caused by the offense is at least fifty thousand dollars ($50,000); or

(3) a person obtains, possesses, transfers, or uses the identifying information of a person who is less than eighteen (18) years of age and is:

(A) the person's son or daughter;

(B) a dependent of the person;

(C) a ward of the person; or

(D) an individual for whom the person is a guardian.

(c) The conduct prohibited in subsections (a) and (b) does not apply to:

(1) a person less than twenty-one (21) years of age who uses identifying information to acquire an alcoholic beverage (as defined in IC 7.1-1-3-5);

(2) a minor (as defined in IC 35-49-1-4) who uses identifying information to acquire:

(A) a cigarette, an electronic cigarette (as defined in IC 35-46-1-1.5), or a tobacco product (as defined in IC 6-7-2-5);

(B) a periodical, a videotape, or other communication medium that contains or depicts nudity (as defined in IC 35-49-1-5);

(C) admittance to a performance (live or film) that prohibits the attendance of the minor based on age; or

(D) an item that is prohibited by law for use or consumption by a minor; or

(3) any person who uses identifying information for a lawful purpose.

(d) It is not a defense in a prosecution under subsection (a) or (b) that no person was harmed or defrauded.

As added by P.L.180-2001, SEC.2. Amended by P.L.22-2003, SEC.2; P.L.125-2006, SEC.9; P.L.137-2009, SEC.14; P.L.20-2013, SEC.3; P.L.158-2013, SEC.471; P.L.174-2021, SEC.46.