Just plain wrong.
From the story: Melendez said last week that he tricked Trump into believing he was New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez (D).
That would be an admission against interest and therefore admissible under the relevant heresay rules.
Heres the law: Whoever falsely assumes or pretends to be an officer or employee acting under the authority of the United States or any department, agency or officer thereof, and acts as such, or in such pretended character demands or obtains any money, paper, document, or thing of value, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both.
Pretty sure admittedly tricking the President qualifies as falsely assuming or pretending.
Oh yeah, the thing of value would be information about the conversation he used for commercial gain (hits).