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  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Posts
    7

    Default How Long Do the Police Have to Prosecute You For Identity Theft

    My question involves criminal law for the state of: Texas.

    In about 1998 or 99, I had a hair brained scheme to get an identity card in someone elses name. I had no criminal intent, only to escape my past (nothing serious, but I thought so at the time.) I opened a sears account with it, but paid the bills. I have never used it since, but I still have possession of the ID, birth certificate and research that assisted me.
    This was 20 years ago, and I have never profited or attempted to profit from this. I have only kept the items in question in case the zombie apocalypse comes (or some such stupid reason)

    If, for some strange reason, my house was searched and these false docs discovered, would the statute of limitation be come and gone? Would it matter whether or not I still had the docs?

    I'm not in trouble, have a comfortable and law abiding life, and have no intention of that changing. Just wondering if this skele in the closet could bite me if discovered by law enforcement. Again, they would have no reason to look, but obviously, I think too much and have a tad of an anxiety issue, lol.


    Thank you!

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jun 2014
    Posts
    3,212

    Default Re: Identity Theft

    For someone who supposely has a law abiding life, why have you dragged this stuff around with you for 20 years ? It isn't something that you want to show your children or grandchildren, hopefully. Maybe you should see a psychologist and find out why this stuff is so important to you.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Tacoma, WA
    Posts
    1,534

    Default Re: Identity Theft

    If you have kept this false identity active (is the ID current or expired? Is the Sears account still open?), then the crime could be considered to be ongoing and the statute of limitations would be no issue. You committed a crime (possibly multiple crimes) and may still be engaged in an ongoing criminal activity.

    Was the identity you used that of a real person (living or dead)? If so, it is possible that that person has already discovered your fraudulent use of their identity and, at least, filed a report with the credit reporting agencies.

    You should seek the help of an attorney to guide you through getting out of the mess you potentially have hanging over you.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Posts
    7

    Default Re: Identity Theft

    Id has been expired for many many years. Sears account was only used once and paid.
    The identity assumed was a of a dead person about my age at the time.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Posts
    19,901

    Default Re: Identity Theft

    Texas identity theft requires the intent to defraud or harm. If you were to be charged, this would likely be your defense. There's no intent nor actual harm done (either to the individual whose identity you assumed or to any person you dealt with under that identity). There's an assumption of intent however if you had more than three different such identities in your possession. Go and sin no more.

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