Federal Computer Crimes Defense

Located in in Stockton, Sacramento, and Northern California, the Law Offices of Allen Sawyer offer unwavering criminal defense at both the state and federal level for persons facing criminal charges. Drawing on his extensive legal knowledge of federal laws regarding computer crimes and his years of experience defending federal criminal cases, California criminal defense attorney Allen Sawyer represents individuals in need of tough criminal defense against charges of federal computer crimes, cyber crimes, internet crimes, and other related criminal offenses.

Providing Federal Computer Crimes Defense in California

Due to their potential to have a far-reaching and devastating impact, computer crimes are of high interest to U.S. agencies, and prosecuting computer crimes is a top priority of the federal government. Convicted offenders of federal computer crimes may face stiff penalties—including hefty fines and prison time—that could have a lasting impact on their reputation and their lives. Computer crimes can intersect with other federal offenses that can only escalate penalties. If you’ve been charged with computer crimes, you need to secure a knowledgeable federal criminal defense attorney who will avidly seek your best interests while preserving your rights. Federal criminal defense attorney Allen Sawyer possesses not only a thorough familiarity with criminal law, but also with the federal statutes and sentencing guidelines relevant to federal computer crimes, and will use his knowledge and experience to provide uncompromising defense in your specific computer crimes criminal case.

Types of Internet Crimes

Computer crimes encompass a wide range of illegal acts, including crimes specifically related to computer use as well as non-computer crimes that are committed through the use of a computer. A broad category of computer crimes is cybercrime. Cybercrimes involve the use of a computer or computer network, or have computers as their target. Within the category of cybercrimes are internet crimes, which specifically involve illegal acts conducted through the internet. Crimes that fall under the umbrella of computer crimes include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Unauthorized access or use of a computer
• Unlawfully altering computer data
• Identity theft, information theft, or theft of service
• Trafficking in passwords
• Cyber attacks or computer hacking
• Phishing, skimming, or credit card fraud
• Stalking, threatening, or bullying
• Money laundering
• Investment fraud
• Internet child pornography or Internet solicitation of minors
• Internet extortion
• Internet drug crimes

What Makes Computer Crimes a Federal Offense? 

Under 18 U.S.C. 1030, the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA), it is a federal crime to engage in conduct that amounts to a violation of governmental or bank/financial computer systems, a computer used in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce, or any computer connected to the Internet, as outlined below:

• Damage (18 U.S.C. 1030(a)(5)): Knowingly or recklessly inflicting damage to said computers via a code, virus, Trojan horse, or a range of cyber attacks, cyber crimes, or cyber terrorism
• Threats of Damage (18 U.S.C. 1030(a)(7)): Any threats to inflect damage upon the aforementioned computers
• Trespassing (18 U.S.C. 1030(a)(2);18 U.S.C. 1030(a)(3)): Hacking or otherwise trespassing into the above computers
• Espionage (18 U.S.C. 1030(a)(1): Accessing any of the above computers for the purpose of committing espionage
• Use as Instruments of Fraud (18 U.S.C. 1030(a)(4)): The use of any of the aforementioned computers via unauthorized access to commit fraud

Subsection 1030(b) of the CFAA makes attempting, or even conspiring to commit, any of the above offenses a crime. Being convicted of federal computer crimes can bring harsh criminal penalties. Someone convicted under the CFAA could face a prison sentence of up to 20 years and fines up to $250,000.