I'm sorry @jpiper20 but since I don't have any way of knowing you except through your words, your words don't really reflect contrition. You didn't make a 'mistake', you did 'wrong'. Your use of the word mistake softens your actions and doesn't take full responsibility. I don't wish to be harsh, but sometimes it takes brutal honesty to really own up to what we do wrong.
You are a real person, there is no doubt about that. You did in a sense steal the identity of the person who you stole the creative product and claimed it as your own. That person is a real person as well. As an artist you should have known the wrong you were doing to the person you stole from and then claimed as your own. To a point, you while didn't claim his name, you claimed to be him.
I like that the community, at least some of the community, is willing to give you a chance at redemption but I believe they need complete and utter honesty from you in return. The system may not allow for the number on your reputation to be decreased, but those who know of you, will do that on their own. At least in their own minds. It is for you to earn it back.