New Law Hikes ID Theft Penalties

Persons convicted of identify theft can expect to go to jail for two or more years under a bill signed by President Bush.The bill set mandatory sentences for crimes involving identify theft and does not allow probation. Identity theft is "one of the fastest-growing financial crimes in our nation," President Bush said at a bill-signing ceremony. "This new law establishes in the federal criminal court the offense of aggravated identity theft. And someone convicted of that crime can expect to go to jail for stealing a person's good name."