FRAUD USE/POSS IDENT INFO # ITEMS 50 OR MORETexas Penal Code (PC) § 32.51(c)(4)
“FRAUD USE/POSS IDENT INFO # ITEMS 50 OR MORE” stands for Fraudulent Use or Possession of Identifying Information (50 or More Items), a first-degree felony under Texas Penal Code (PC) § 32.51(c)(4). It is punishable by 5 to 99 years or life in prison and a fine up to $10,000.
Below: how these cases end in Texas courts, how long they take, and the punishment.
What does “FRAUD USE/POSS IDENT INFO # ITEMS 50 OR MORE” mean?
“FRAUD USE/POSS IDENT INFO # ITEMS 50 OR MORE” stands for Fraudulent Use or Possession of Identifying Information (50 or More Items), a first-degree felony under Texas PC § 32.51(c)(4).
Texas Penal Code § 32.51 makes it an offense to obtain, possess, transfer, or use an item of identifying information of another person without that person's consent, with intent to harm or defraud another; it also covers information of deceased persons and of children younger than 18. Identifying information includes names paired with dates of birth, biometric identifiers, unique electronic identification and account numbers, telecommunication access devices, and Social Security or other government-issued numbers. The statute's grading ladder is built on the number of items involved, and subsection (c)(4) is its top rung: the offense is a first-degree felony when the number of items obtained, possessed, transferred, or used is fifty or more. Prosecutions at this level typically involve large caches of stolen personal data rather than misuse of a single person's information.
What usually happens to a FRAUD USE/POSS IDENT INFO # ITEMS 50 OR MORE charge?
33% ended without a conviction, 29% in deferred adjudication and 38% in a conviction.
How 93 resolved FRAUD USE/POSS IDENT INFO # ITEMS 50 OR MORE charges filed 2019–2023 ended, across 11 counties (Brazoria, Collin, Comal, Dallas, FortBend, Galveston, Hays, Montgomery, Rockwall, Travis, Williamson):
Outcome is the final disposition recorded on the charge. “Other” (0) covers waived counts, bond forfeitures, transfers and unrecorded outcomes. Bexar County records disposition dates but not outcomes, so it counts toward time-to-disposition only. Tarrant County criminal records are not in this dataset.
How long does a FRAUD USE/POSS IDENT INFO # ITEMS 50 OR MORE case take to resolve?
Typically about 11 months: half of resolved cases closed within 344 days of filing.
Across 93 resolved FRAUD USE/POSS IDENT INFO # ITEMS 50 OR MORE charges filed 2019–2023, the median time from filing to disposition was 344 days. The middle half took between 203 and 596 days.
Time depends on the county's docket, whether the case is set for trial, and plea negotiations.
How did real FRAUD USE/POSS IDENT INFO # ITEMS 50 OR MORE cases end?
Individual cases from the public court record, with the disposition and sentence text exactly as the clerk entered it. Every case is decided on its own facts.
Ended without a conviction
Deferred adjudication
Ended in a conviction
What is the punishment for Fraudulent Use or Possession of Identifying Information (50 or More Items) in Texas?
5 to 99 years or life in prison and a fine up to $10,000.
| Charged as | Possible confinement | Fine | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| First-degree felony | 5 to 99 years or life in prison (TDCJ) | Fine up to $10,000 | Penal Code § 12.32 |
Ranges are the statutory maximums for the level; enhancements, prior convictions and plea agreements change what is actually imposed.
How much is bail for FRAUD USE/POSS IDENT INFO # ITEMS 50 OR MORE in Texas?
The median bail is $20,000, and 2% of defendants were released on a personal bond.
Across 1,520 Texas bail settings for this charge (11 counties, Apr 2022 – Jun 2025), the median cash or surety bond was $20,000 (middle half: $8,000 – $50,000). 2% of defendants were released on a personal bond, and bail was denied in 150 cases. When this was the only charge at booking (166 records), the median was $30,000 and 4% got a personal bond.
| County | Records | Median cash bail | Middle half | Personal bond | Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas | 197 | $25,000 | $10,000 – $50,000 | 0% | 16% |
| Travis | 196 | $15,000 | $7,500 – $25,000 | 2% | 8% |
| Fort Bend | 99 | $15,000 | $9,000 – $40,000 | 2% | 11% |
| Tarrant | 97 | $10,000 | $3,000 – $25,000 | 0% | 2% |
| Hays | 79 | $8,000 | $5,000 – $20,000 | 13% | 13% |
Showing the 5 counties with the most records; use the selector for any county with at least 30. Per-charge bond settings on original magistrations, from Texas OCA bail reporting under SB 6. Bail is set case by case — these are statistics, not a prediction.
Charged with FRAUD USE/POSS IDENT INFO # ITEMS 50 OR MORE?
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Find a Defense AttorneyBail data: Texas Office of Court Administration magistration reports (SB 6), Apr 2022 – Jun 2025. Court outcomes: county district and county clerk records. Statistics describe past cases and are not legal advice; every case is decided on its own facts.