Los Angeles Federal Computer Crimes Lawyer
Recently, computer crimes and related federal investigations have seen a significant rise in frequency. Sometimes a computer is the target of the offense in which case the goal is to steal information from, or cause damage to, a computer, computer system, or computer network. However, in other cases the computer may be used as a tool of the offense. In this instance an individual uses a computer to facilitate some traditional offense such as fraud. Even still, computers may sometimes simply be incidental to the offense but nonetheless significant to law enforcement because they contain particular evidence of a crime. If you or your loved one has been accused of a computer related crime it is important that you seek the advice of a knowledgeable and experienced attorney immediately. At Kestenbaum Eisner & Gorin, LLP, our attorneys have over 50 years combined experience in helping individuals who are under investigation by the police or have been arrested for Computer Crimes.
Our expert Computer Crimes federal defense attorneys are available to defend you in both state and federal courtrooms. As former Los Angeles prosecutors, we know what evidence to look for to establish problems of proof for the government. We work closely with our clients to build a successful defense for computer crimes. Such defenses include seeking suppression of illegal evidence, entrapment, and disputing access to and possession of the relevant I.P. address and computer.
Frequently prosecuted federal Computer Crimes include the following:
- 18 U.S.C. § 1029: Fraud and Related Activity in Connection with Access Devices
- 18 U.S.C. § 1030: Fraud and Related Activity in Connection with Computers
- 18 U.S.C. § 1362: Communication Lines, Stations, or Systems
- 18 U.S.C. § 2511: Interception and Disclosure of Wire, Oral, or Electronic Communications Prohibited
- 18 U.S.C. § 2701: Unlawful Access to Stored Communications
- 18 U.S.C. § 2702: Disclosure of Contents
- 18 U.S.C. § 2703: Requirements for Governmental Access
Federal Computer Crime Laws
United States Code Section 1029(a) provides criminal sanctions for, among other things, anyone who “ knowingly and with intent to defraud produces, uses, or traffics in one or more counterfeit access devices” or “knowingly and with intent to defraud traffics in or uses one or more unauthorized access devices during any one-year period, and by such conduct obtains anything of value aggregating $1,000 or more during that period.” The conduct prohibited in Section 1029(a) is with regards specifically to access devices used most generally to commit various acts of fraud. United States Code Section 1030(a) provides sanctions for actions pertaining more so to government information. It provides punishment for anyone who knowingly accesses a computer without authorization or exceeds authorized access and obtains classified information “with the intent or reason to believe that such information so obtained is to be used to the injury of the United States, or to the advantage of any foreign nation."
Computer Crimes are considered both property and privacy offenses. The government will not hesitate to prosecute you for computer crimes and any unlawful access that it can prove against you.
The consequences of a Computer Crime conviction can be life-changing. Thus, it is important if you are accused of unlawful access or any other computer related crime that you retain the legal services of an experienced Los Angeles federal criminal defense attorney who knows how to successfully fight such crime charges. A person who is convicted of violating computer privacy and access laws may be punished with:
- Imprisonment in Prison or Jail and/or
We can help you to aggressively fight your case and avoid the consequences of a federal Computer Offense on your record! If you have been charged with a federal criminal offense, contactthe criminal defense attorneys at Kestenbaum, Eisner & Gorin, LLP. Our knowledgeable legal team can evaluate your case issues and advise you of your legal options before you go to court.