You Need the Right Attorney to Fight Federal Internet Crimes – And You Have Found Him
The United States government has established strict federal laws prohibiting the use of the internet, computers, or computer networks to commit illegal acts as part of its ongoing fight against internet crime and cybercrime.
The criminal penalties that accompany an internet crime conviction can be severe, with some of the most serious internet-related crimes carrying a potential sentence of life in prison. If you have been suspected of an online crime or have been prosecuted in federal court, it is critical that you have a trustworthy, trial-tested defense counsel on your side who can expertly navigate the federal criminal justice system and increase your chances of a positive trial outcome.
Contact Chambers Law Firm at 714-760-4088 now to seek out a free legal consultation.
Internet crimes: what they are and what they aren’t
The phrase “internet crime” is a very broad legal term that refers to any criminal activity carried out through the internet. Internet crime is a subset of cybercrime, which is defined as any crime involving the use of a computer or computer network, or that targets a computer. Because of the fast growth and use of the internet, the majority of cyber-crimes are now classified as online crimes. Here are some instances of offenses that might result in an inquiry and possible prosecution for an online crime or cyber-crime:
- Identity theft
- Money laundering
- Password theft and trafficking
- Theft of computer information
- Phishing
- Theft of service
- Changing data on a computer without permission
- Attacks against the internet
- Skimming
- Harassment, threatening, or bullying
- Internet-based solicitation of minors
- Investment fraud
- Child pornography
- Fraudulent internet auctions
- Hacking
- Theft of a credit card
- Extortion
Internet crimes are defined by federal laws that apply to a wide variety of online activities, including emails and websites, as well as utilizing the internet to perpetrate fraud or identity theft. Identity theft, which includes utilizing the internet to steal another person’s personal information and then using that information to empty their bank accounts, make purchases with their credit cards, or get new lines of credit, is the sort of cyber crime that most people are familiar with. Internet identity theft frequently incorporates various forms of online crimes and unlawful activities, such as skimming, phishing, credit card fraud, and even child pornography.
Federal internet crimes
Although most states have laws banning online crimes such as computer hacking and credit card fraud, similar offenses are more often punished at the federal level since the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has authority over the internet.
The federal government is primarily concerned with large-scale online crimes aimed at defrauding individuals, businesses, or the government, such as money laundering and computer hacking schemes involving government networks.
Virtually every crime done via the internet or a computer can be prosecuted as a federal felony with serious criminal consequences if convicted. Because the internet may be used to transmit information across state borders, which is a hallmark of a federal felony, additional online offenses such as minor solicitation and child pornography can be prosecuted at the federal level.
Penalties for online crimes
Internet crimes, computer crimes, and cybercrime are among the fastest-growing areas of the law, and the federal government has taken a hard line against them, imposing harsh criminal penalties on convicted offenders that can last the rest of their lives, including expensive fines, prison, probation, restitution, and community service.
Defending against charges of internet crime
When you’re charged with an internet-related crime like fraud or identity theft in federal court, you’re up against the full force of the federal government, which has the time, money, and resources to put you in prison for the rest of your life, depending on the severity of the crime you’re accused of committing.
That said, under the law, all defendants in criminal matters are assumed innocent until proven guilty, and no matter how severe your criminal accusations appear to be, your federal defense attorney may always mount a defense to counter the prosecution’s case and increase your chances of acquittal at trial. The following defense tactics can be used to fight allegations of online crime in general:
- You were falsely accused of committing the crime
- It’s a case of mistaken identity
- You were entrapped
- The evidence against you was collected by the prosecution during an unlawful search
- You were an unwitting accomplice in an online crime
These are just some of the defense options we will consider when you bring your case to Chambers Law Firm. Call us now at 714-760-4088 to request your free legal consultation.
