If you are being investigated for a computer crime, or if you have already been arrested for such a crime, you are probably under great stress. Cybercrime involves a wide range of activities that would otherwise be illegal. When people use a computer or the Internet to continue committing such crimes, they are classified as computer or Internet crimes.
These days, almost every aspect of our society is digitized. People can download movies, apply for a credit card, transfer balances between accounts, and pay their bills with the touch of a button. The expanding functions of the Internet have opened a whole new world to criminal media and activities. Criminals are finding new ways to break the law at a rate that law enforcement agencies are struggling to maintain. Because computers have such a huge impact on society as a whole, federal prosecutors waste no time or expense securing criminal convictions against individuals who commit such crimes. In fact, the federal government has entire task forces dedicated to tracking and arresting people who commit these types of crimes.
What categorizes a computer or Internet crime? A common aspect of cybercrime involves financial fraud and money laundering schemes. Other financial crimes committed over the Internet include credit and debit card fraud, hacking, and identity theft.
Cybercrime also involves harassment, spam, phishing, and child sex crimes. People who possess child pornography on their home or work computers and people who distribute child pornography over the Internet are breaking the law. Unfortunately, Internet crimes involving children can often be a case of mistaken identity. Maybe you didn’t know the images were from minors, or maybe someone else used your computer. Revealing the truth of what really happened will depend on the investigative tactics of an experienced defense attorney.
Because these crimes generally cross state lines, they are often classified as federal crimes. If you are under investigation for a federal crime, you may have a large government entity assisting your local law enforcement agency. This means that the prosecution will have unlimited human resources and means to pursue a conviction. If you want to effectively protect your legal rights, you will need the help of an experienced federal criminal defense attorney on your side. Your attorney will have a wealth of proven defense tools at your disposal. The last thing you want to do is hire an inexperienced or apprehensive attorney when you are fighting to preserve your reputation and your freedom. If you are under investigation for a computer crime, do not hesitate to contact a federal criminal defense attorney immediately.