“Even possessing a stolen credit card in New Jersey can lead to an arrest on charges for credit card theft. Having a knowledgeable defense attorney on your side can be the critical weapon that you need to successfully fight the State’s case against you.”
Credit Card Theft Lawyers in Newark, New Jersey
Credit card theft is a third degree or fourth degree indictable criminal offense in New Jersey. If you are convicted of a third degree offense, you could be sentenced to a New Jersey State Prison term ranging from three (3) to five (5) years.
The criminal defense lawyers at The Tormey Law Firm have the experience and dedication necessary to serve as your advocates in the legal system. Their extensive knowledge of the law and specifically-formulated strategies for fighting credit card theft charges allow them to successfully defend clients in courts throughout New Jersey.
Call The Tormey Law Firm anytime at (201)-556-1570 for a free consultation with one of the firm’s skilled criminal defense attorneys. They are happy to discuss your case, answer your pressing questions, and if you choose to obtain further services, you can move forward with confidence and a dedicated defender now fighting for you.
Credit Card Theft Charges in NJ: A Third or Fourth Degree Charge and a Felony on Your Criminal Record
The New Jersey Criminal Code addresses credit card theft offenses in N.J.S.A. 2C:21-6c. The specific language provided in the statute reads:
1. A person who takes or obtains a credit card from the person, possession, custody or control of another without the cardholder’s consent or who, with knowledge that it has been so taken, receives the credit card with intent to use it or to sell it, or to transfer it to a person other than the issuer or the cardholder is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree. A person who has in his possession or under his control (a) credit cards issued in the names of two or more other persons OR (b) two or more stolen credit cards is presumed to have violated this paragraph.
2. A person who receives a credit card that he knows to have been lost, mislaid, or delivered under a mistake as to the identity or address of the cardholder, and who retains possession with intent to use it or to sell it or to transfer it to a person other than the issuer or the cardholder is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.
3. A person other than the issuer who sells a credit card or a person who buys a credit card from a person other than the issuer is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.
4. A person who, with intent to defraud the issuer, a person or organization providing money, goods, services or anything else of value, or any other person, obtains control over a credit card as security for debt is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.
5. A person who, with intent to defraud a purported issuer, a person or organization providing money, goods, services or anything else of value, or any other person, falsely make or falsely embossess a purported credit card or utters such a credit card is guilty of a third degree offense. A person other than the purported issuer who possesses two or more credit cards which are falsely made or falsely embossed is presumed to have violated this paragraph.
6. A person other than the cardholder or a person authorized by him who, with intent to defraud the issuer, or a person or organization providing money, goods, services or anything else of value, or any other person, signs a credit card, is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree. A person who possesses two or more credit cards which are so signed is presumed to have violated this paragraph.
A Conviction for Credit Card Theft: What Does This Mean?
As mentioned above, a conviction for credit card theft can result in a 3 to 5-year prison term or a maximum 18-month sentence, depending on the degree of the charges against you. This also means a criminal charge will remain on your record after you are forced to face prosecution in the Superior Court in the county in which the alleged offense occurred.
I Need a Lawyer for a Credit Card Theft Charge in NJ
Call Travis J. Tormey and his team of lawyers for more information about these specific charges and how they typically handle these cases for their clients.
The offices of the Tormey Law Firm can be contacted day or night at (201)-556-1570 or (201)-556-1570.