New York statute
N.Y. Penal Law § 190.26 — Criminal impersonation in the first degree
Current through 2026 legislative session (LBDC text via OpenLegislation as of 2026-07-17)
Part of Article 190: Other Frauds, New York Penal Law.
Criminal charges under this statute
Full text of N.Y. Penal Law § 190.26
Statutory text current through the 2026 legislative session (LBDC text via OpenLegislation as of 2026-07-17). This publication reproduces the text of the Consolidated Laws of New York as provided by the New York State Senate's Open Legislation service (Legislative Bill Drafting Commission statutory text); it is not the official statutes of the State of New York.
190.26 Criminal impersonation in the first degree.
A person is guilty of criminal impersonation in the first degree when
he:
1. Pretends to be a police officer or a federal law enforcement
officer as enumerated in section 2.15 of the criminal procedure law, or
wears or displays without authority, any uniform, badge or other
insignia or facsimile thereof, by which such police officer or federal
law enforcement officer is lawfully distinguished or expresses by his or
her words or actions that he or she is acting with the approval or
authority of any police department or acting as a federal law
enforcement officer with the approval of any agency that employs federal
law enforcement officers as enumerated in section 2.15 of the criminal
procedure law; and
2. So acts with intent to induce another to submit to such pretended
official authority or otherwise to act in reliance upon said pretense
and in the course of such pretense commits or attempts to commit a
felony; or
3. Pretending to be a duly licensed physician or other person
authorized to issue a prescription for any drug or any instrument or
device used in the taking or administering of drugs for which a
prescription is required by law, communicates to a pharmacist an oral
prescription which is required to be reduced to writing pursuant to
section thirty-three hundred thirty-two of the public health law.
Criminal impersonation in the first degree is a class E felony.
Official sources
Legal terms used in this section
Questions this section answers
What class of felony is criminal impersonation in the first degree in New York?
Criminal impersonation in the first degree is a Class E Felony in New York under N.Y. Penal Law § 190.26.
Which New York statute covers criminal impersonation in the first degree?
Criminal impersonation in the first degree is governed by N.Y. Penal Law § 190.26 (Criminal impersonation in the first degree).
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.