Unreported ID Theft Cases Prevent Prosecution

Federal officials say many identity thieves go unpunished after their plans are thwarted, due to improper reporting of crimes.Secret Service Special Agent in Charge for Kentucky Paul Johnson says many cases of identity theft are stopped by banks or credit card agencies and not reported to law enforcement officials.Johnson says a recent act of Congress gives the government better tools to prosecute identity thieves."The federal statute allows for you to be convicted," he says. "If convicted, to be sentenced to a two-year mandatory sentences. So if you're convicted of one count of aggravated identity theft, you're going to go away for at least two years per count."While the Secret Service handles identity theft cases, Johnson says local police can report the crimes to federal officials.