Naked Dishonesty: Misuse of a Social Security Number for an Otherwise Legal Purpose May Not Be a Crime Involving Moral Turpitude After All

Authors

Nathanael C. Crowley

Library of Congress Authority File

http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n79122466

Document Type

Comment

Abstract

This Comment questions whether the misuse of a Social Security number for an otherwise legal purpose is a crime involving moral turpitude. It begins with a history of moral turpitude and its initial connection to immigration law in the United States. Through a close analysis of misuse of a Social Security number for an otherwise legal purpose as a crime involving moral turpitude in modern cases, this Comment will examine the role of fraud and dishonesty in the question. The analysis reveals a critical distinction between crimes involving dishonesty and crimes involving fraud. This distinction shows that crimes involving naked dishonesty, that is, crimes that involve dishonesty but do not involve fraud, namely misuse of a Social Security number for an otherwise legal purpose, need not be classified as crimes involving moral turpitude under the law.

Recommended Citation

Nathanael C. Crowley, Naked Dishonesty: Misuse of a Social Security Number for an Otherwise Legal Purpose May Not Be a Crime Involving Moral Turpitude After All, 15 San Diego Int'l L.J. 205 (2013)
Available at: https://digital.sandiego.edu/ilj/vol15/iss1/6