Chicago Criminal Lawyer Blog
Chicago is home to one of the largest concentrations of veterans and military service members in Illinois. From residents commuting to Naval Station Great Lakes, to reservists and National Guard members balancing civilian life with military duty, the city and its surrounding counties have a strong connection to the armed forces. Unfortunately, this visibility also means that service members are sometimes targeted by identity thieves.
Illinois lawmakers recognize that stealing the identity of a military service member can be especially damaging. It not only threatens financial stability, but also puts service members’ deployment status, benefits, and security clearances at risk. Because of these unique vulnerabilities, Illinois has made identity theft against a military service member an aggravated offense under 720 ILCS 5/16G-20.
Aggravated identity theft is charged more harshly than standard identity theft under 720 ILCS 5/16G-15. What might normally be a lower-level felony is automatically elevated if the victim is an active duty member of the Armed Services, a reservist on active orders, or the spouse of a service member. In Chicago, Cook County prosecutors — and sometimes federal authorities — pursue these cases aggressively, seeking longer prison sentences and higher fines.
