New York statute
N.Y. Penal Law § 190.79 — Identity theft in the second 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 § 190.79
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.
190.79 Identity theft in the second degree.
A person is guilty of identity theft in the second degree when such
person knowingly and with intent to defraud assumes the identity of
another person by presenting themself as that other person, or by acting
as that other person or by using personal identifying information of
that other person, and thereby:
1. obtains goods, money, property or services or uses credit in the
name of such other person in an aggregate amount that exceeds five
hundred dollars; or
2. causes financial loss to such person or to another person or
persons in an aggregate amount that exceeds five hundred dollars; or
3. commits or attempts to commit a felony or acts as an accessory to
the commission of a felony; or
4. commits the crime of identity theft in the third degree as defined
in section 190.78 of this article and has been previously convicted
within the last five years of identity theft in the third degree as
defined in section 190.78, identity theft in the second degree as
defined in this section, identity theft in the first degree as defined
in section 190.80, unlawful possession of personal identification
information in the third degree as defined in section 190.81, unlawful
possession of personal identification information in the second degree
as defined in section 190.82, unlawful possession of personal
identification information in the first degree as defined in section
190.83, unlawful possession of a skimmer device in the second degree as
defined in section 190.85, unlawful possession of a skimmer device in
the first degree as defined in section 190.86, grand larceny in the
fourth degree as defined in section 155.30, grand larceny in the third
degree as defined in section 155.35, grand larceny in the second degree
as defined in section 155.40 or grand larceny in the first degree as
defined in section 155.42 of this chapter.
Identity theft in the second degree is a class E felony.
Official sources
Legal terms used in this section
Questions this section answers
What class of felony is identity theft in the second degree in New York?
Identity theft in the second degree is a Class E Felony in New York under N.Y. Penal Law § 190.79.
Which New York statute covers identity theft in the second degree?
Identity theft in the second degree is governed by N.Y. Penal Law § 190.79 (Identity theft in the second degree).
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.