Legal Question in Criminal Law in California

It is possible, but nobody can give a meaningful evaluation of his chances without completely reviewing all the facts of the case and your husband's past record, and discussing it with the district attorney and judge.

Penal Code 530.5 is identity theft, using another person's information to obtain merchandise, services or credit. It is a wobbler, which means it can be a felony or a misdemeanor. A felony carries a maximum of three years in prison and a misdemeanor has a maximum sentence of a year in prison.

Due to the way California sentencing works, your husband isn't facing a full three-year term for each offense, but he is still looking at more than 25 years in prison if he receives the maximum sentence. Defense attorneys often try to get clients drug treatment instead of prison, but it sounds like your husband may have been involved in something more elaborate than the usual drug addict who commits crimes to support his habit.

Your husband needs a lawyer. If he can't afford to hire one, the judge will appoint the Public Defender to represent him.