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(Salt Lake City-AP) -- The Utah Senate passed an identity theft bill today that could help curb the crime fed by the Internet and methamphetamine addiction.
The bill contains amendments to the existing identity theft law that allows prosecutors in multiple jurisdictions to file felony charges against suspects.
The bill would make it a class A misdemeanor to possess false identification or help someone get one. A third-degree felony could be charged if a person has multiple false IDs or helps another get multiple false IDs.
Identity theft involves organized criminal cells that trade money and drugs for personal information.
Authorities say meth addiction drives up to 90 percent of identity theft and fraud crime. The bill now goes to the House.
(Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
