Arizona Revised Statutes § 13‑2006 – Criminal Impersonation
A person commits criminal impersonation by:
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Assuming a false identity with the intent to defraud another; or
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Pretending to be a representative of some person or organization with the intent to defraud; or
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Pretending to be, or assuming the identity of, an employee or representative of a person or organization—with intent to induce someone to give access to property (this doesn't apply to peace officers performing official duties).
This offense is a Class 6 felony, which is the lowest level of felony under Arizona law.
Penalties
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Up to 2 years in prison, and/or
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Significant fines—in some cases up to $150,000 (per ARS 13‑610).
Misdemeanor charges are rare, but prosecutors may use them under mitigating circumstances—typically first-time offenders without clear intent to harm or defraud, punishable by up to 6 months in jail.
Defenses to Criminal Impersonation
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Lack of intent to defraud
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The State must show you knowingly and willfully intended to deceive someone
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If your impersonation was accidental, unintentional, then this defense can negate a key element of the crime
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Mistaken identity or factual error
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If you were misidentified as the impersonator, or genuinely believed you were someone else (not with intent to defraud), this can be a valid defense
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No false representation or benefit derived
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Simply adopting a false identity isn't enough—the law requires that you impersonate with intent to defraud or induce someone to grant property access
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If no one was deceived, no benefit was gained, or no access was obtained, you may challenge the sufficiency of the prosecution's case.
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No actual deception occurred
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If the impersonation did not trick or mislead anyone in reality—such as, you claimed to be someone but no one believed you—then the prosecution may lack evidence that the impersonation achieved its deceptive objective.
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