What is identity theft and what are the penalties?

Florida's offense covers willfully and fraudulently using, or possessing with intent to use, another person's personal identification information without authorization.

Penalties escalate on two axes: the value obtained and the number of individuals whose information was involved. Higher tiers carry mandatory minimum sentences, which makes the number of alleged victims a critical fact.

Enhanced provisions apply where the victim is a minor, elderly, or disabled, and where the information was obtained through a position of trust.

What's contested: authorization, which arises constantly in family and business contexts; whether "personal identification information" as defined was actually used; identification of who conducted the transactions, particularly where devices or accounts were shared; and the count of victims, since that drives the tier.

There are also federal identity theft statutes, and some cases are prosecuted federally with different exposure. Which sovereign is prosecuting matters enormously.