Iowa criminal charge
Crimes involving gift cards in Iowa
Current through 2026 Iowa legislative session
Crimes involving gift cards is a criminal offense under Iowa law, defined by Iowa Code § 714.2D. Its classification is not fixed: Iowa assigns a different penalty class depending on the circumstances of the offense. The class that applies — and the sentencing range that follows from it — depends on which statutory variant fits the facts.
Defined by Iowa Code § 714.2D.
What is the penalty for crimes involving gift cards in Iowa?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | up to 2 years (Unauthorized acquisition/retention of gift card or gift card redemption information (theft) — A person with intent to defraud acquires or retains possession of a gift card or gift card redemption information without the consent of the cardholder, card issuer, or gift card seller.; a sentence of more than one year is an indeterminate term (§903.1(2))) | discretionary | Iowa Code § 903.1 |
| Fine | $855 to $8,540 (Unauthorized acquisition/retention of gift card or gift card redemption information (theft) — A person with intent to defraud acquires or retains possession of a gift card or gift card redemption information without the consent of the cardholder, card issuer, or gift card seller.; fine may not be suspended by the court (§903.1(1)); §911 surcharges added on top) | mandatory | Iowa Code § 903.1 |
| Jail / prison | up to 2 years (Altering or tampering with a gift card (forgery) — A person with intent to defraud alters or tampers with a gift card.; a sentence of more than one year is an indeterminate term (§903.1(2))) | discretionary | Iowa Code § 903.1 |
| Fine | $855 to $8,540 (Altering or tampering with a gift card (forgery) — A person with intent to defraud alters or tampers with a gift card.; fine may not be suspended by the court (§903.1(1)); §911 surcharges added on top) | mandatory | Iowa Code § 903.1 |
| Jail / prison | up to 10 years (Fraudulent scheme to obtain gift card/redemption information (over $5,000) — The amount of money or value of property or services involved in the fraudulent scheme exceeds five thousand dollars.; indeterminate term (§902.3); maximum only, release determined by the board of parole) | discretionary | Iowa Code § 902.9 |
| Fine | $1,370 to $13,660 (Fraudulent scheme to obtain gift card/redemption information (over $5,000) — The amount of money or value of property or services involved in the fraudulent scheme exceeds five thousand dollars.; §911 surcharges added on top) | mandatory | Iowa Code § 902.9 |
| Jail / prison | up to 5 years (Fraudulent scheme to obtain gift card/redemption information ($1,000–$5,000) — The amount of money or value of property or services involved exceeds one thousand dollars but does not exceed five thousand dollars.; indeterminate term (§902.3); maximum only, release determined by the board of parole) | discretionary | Iowa Code § 902.9 |
| Fine | $1,025 to $10,245 (Fraudulent scheme to obtain gift card/redemption information ($1,000–$5,000) — The amount of money or value of property or services involved exceeds one thousand dollars but does not exceed five thousand dollars.; §911 surcharges added on top) | mandatory | Iowa Code § 902.9 |
| Jail / prison | up to 2 years (Fraudulent scheme to obtain gift card/redemption information ($500–$1,000) — The amount of money or value of property or services involved exceeds five hundred dollars but does not exceed one thousand dollars.; a sentence of more than one year is an indeterminate term (§903.1(2))) | discretionary | Iowa Code § 903.1 |
| Fine | $855 to $8,540 (Fraudulent scheme to obtain gift card/redemption information ($500–$1,000) — The amount of money or value of property or services involved exceeds five hundred dollars but does not exceed one thousand dollars.; fine may not be suspended by the court (§903.1(1)); §911 surcharges added on top) | mandatory | Iowa Code § 903.1 |
| Jail / prison | up to 1 years (Fraudulent scheme to obtain gift card/redemption information ($500 or less) — The amount of money or value of property or services involved is five hundred dollars or less.; the court may order imprisonment in addition to the fine (§903.1(1)(b))) | discretionary | Iowa Code § 903.1 |
| Fine | $430 to $2,560 (Fraudulent scheme to obtain gift card/redemption information ($500 or less) — The amount of money or value of property or services involved is five hundred dollars or less.; fine may not be suspended by the court (§903.1(1)); §911 surcharges added on top) | mandatory | Iowa Code § 903.1 |
| Jail / prison | up to 10 years (Use of unlawfully obtained gift card or redemption information (theft, over $5,000) — The value of the property stolen using an unlawfully obtained gift card or redemption information exceeds five thousand dollars.; indeterminate term (§902.3); maximum only, release determined by the board of parole) | discretionary | Iowa Code § 902.9 |
| Fine | $1,370 to $13,660 (Use of unlawfully obtained gift card or redemption information (theft, over $5,000) — The value of the property stolen using an unlawfully obtained gift card or redemption information exceeds five thousand dollars.; §911 surcharges added on top) | mandatory | Iowa Code § 902.9 |
| Jail / prison | up to 5 years (Use of unlawfully obtained gift card or redemption information (theft, $1,000–$5,000) — The value of the property stolen is more than one thousand dollars but not more than five thousand dollars.; indeterminate term (§902.3); maximum only, release determined by the board of parole) | discretionary | Iowa Code § 902.9 |
| Fine | $1,025 to $10,245 (Use of unlawfully obtained gift card or redemption information (theft, $1,000–$5,000) — The value of the property stolen is more than one thousand dollars but not more than five thousand dollars.; §911 surcharges added on top) | mandatory | Iowa Code § 902.9 |
| Jail / prison | up to 2 years (Use of unlawfully obtained gift card or redemption information (theft, $500–$1,000) — The value of the property stolen is more than five hundred dollars but not more than one thousand dollars.; a sentence of more than one year is an indeterminate term (§903.1(2))) | discretionary | Iowa Code § 903.1 |
| Fine | $855 to $8,540 (Use of unlawfully obtained gift card or redemption information (theft, $500–$1,000) — The value of the property stolen is more than five hundred dollars but not more than one thousand dollars.; fine may not be suspended by the court (§903.1(1)); §911 surcharges added on top) | mandatory | Iowa Code § 903.1 |
| Jail / prison | up to 1 years (Use of unlawfully obtained gift card or redemption information (theft, $500 or less) — The value of the property stolen is five hundred dollars or less.; the court may order imprisonment in addition to the fine (§903.1(1)(b))) | discretionary | Iowa Code § 903.1 |
| Fine | $430 to $2,560 (Use of unlawfully obtained gift card or redemption information (theft, $500 or less) — The value of the property stolen is five hundred dollars or less.; fine may not be suspended by the court (§903.1(1)); §911 surcharges added on top) | mandatory | Iowa Code § 903.1 |
Applies to current (2026 Iowa Code; fine levels per 2020 Acts ch 1074).
How is crimes involving gift cards classified in Iowa?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unauthorized acquisition/retention of gift card or gift card redemption information (theft) | Aggravated Misdemeanor | A person with intent to defraud acquires or retains possession of a gift card or gift card redemption information without the consent of the cardholder, card issuer, or gift card seller. | Iowa Code § 714.2D(2)(a) |
| Altering or tampering with a gift card (forgery) | Aggravated Misdemeanor | A person with intent to defraud alters or tampers with a gift card. | Iowa Code § 714.2D(2)(b) |
| Fraudulent scheme to obtain gift card/redemption information (over $5,000) | Class “C” Felony | The amount of money or value of property or services involved in the fraudulent scheme exceeds five thousand dollars. | Iowa Code § 714.2D(2)(c)(1) |
| Fraudulent scheme to obtain gift card/redemption information ($1,000–$5,000) | Class “D” Felony | The amount of money or value of property or services involved exceeds one thousand dollars but does not exceed five thousand dollars. | Iowa Code § 714.2D(2)(c)(2) |
| Fraudulent scheme to obtain gift card/redemption information ($500–$1,000) | Aggravated Misdemeanor | The amount of money or value of property or services involved exceeds five hundred dollars but does not exceed one thousand dollars. | Iowa Code § 714.2D(2)(c)(3) |
| Fraudulent scheme to obtain gift card/redemption information ($500 or less) | Serious Misdemeanor | The amount of money or value of property or services involved is five hundred dollars or less. | Iowa Code § 714.2D(2)(c)(4) |
| Use of unlawfully obtained gift card or redemption information (theft, over $5,000) | Class “C” Felony | The value of the property stolen using an unlawfully obtained gift card or redemption information exceeds five thousand dollars. | Iowa Code § 714.2D(2)(d)(1) |
| Use of unlawfully obtained gift card or redemption information (theft, $1,000–$5,000) | Class “D” Felony | The value of the property stolen is more than one thousand dollars but not more than five thousand dollars. | Iowa Code § 714.2D(2)(d)(2) |
| Use of unlawfully obtained gift card or redemption information (theft, $500–$1,000) | Aggravated Misdemeanor | The value of the property stolen is more than five hundred dollars but not more than one thousand dollars. | Iowa Code § 714.2D(2)(d)(3) |
| Use of unlawfully obtained gift card or redemption information (theft, $500 or less) | Serious Misdemeanor | The value of the property stolen is five hundred dollars or less. | Iowa Code § 714.2D(2)(d)(4) |
Common questions about crimes involving gift cards in Iowa
Is crimes involving gift cards a felony or a misdemeanor in Iowa?
It depends on the circumstances: crimes involving gift cards ranges from a Serious Misdemeanor to a Class “C” Felony in Iowa under Iowa Code § 714.2D.
Unauthorized acquisition/retention of gift card or gift card redemption information (theft): Aggravated Misdemeanor (Iowa Code § 714.2D(2)(a)) · Altering or tampering with a gift card (forgery): Aggravated Misdemeanor (Iowa Code § 714.2D(2)(b)) · Fraudulent scheme to obtain gift card/redemption information (over $5,000): Class “C” Felony (Iowa Code § 714.2D(2)(c)(1)) · Fraudulent scheme to obtain gift card/redemption information ($1,000–$5,000): Class “D” Felony (Iowa Code § 714.2D(2)(c)(2)) · Fraudulent scheme to obtain gift card/redemption information ($500–$1,000): Aggravated Misdemeanor (Iowa Code § 714.2D(2)(c)(3)) · Fraudulent scheme to obtain gift card/redemption information ($500 or less): Serious Misdemeanor (Iowa Code § 714.2D(2)(c)(4)) · Use of unlawfully obtained gift card or redemption information (theft, over $5,000): Class “C” Felony (Iowa Code § 714.2D(2)(d)(1)) · Use of unlawfully obtained gift card or redemption information (theft, $1,000–$5,000): Class “D” Felony (Iowa Code § 714.2D(2)(d)(2)) · Use of unlawfully obtained gift card or redemption information (theft, $500–$1,000): Aggravated Misdemeanor (Iowa Code § 714.2D(2)(d)(3)) · Use of unlawfully obtained gift card or redemption information (theft, $500 or less): Serious Misdemeanor (Iowa Code § 714.2D(2)(d)(4))
What are the penalties for crimes involving gift cards in Iowa?
Which Iowa statute covers crimes involving gift cards?
Crimes involving gift cards is governed by Iowa Code § 714.2D (Crimes involving gift cards).
Legal terms used in this law
This reference is informational and is not legal advice. Penalty ranges are the statutory classification ranges; sentencing in a specific case depends on its facts and history.