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COMPUTER RELATED & IDENTITY CRIMES

One of the FBI’s and Department of Justice’s top priorities over the last few years has been the aggressive prosecution of computer crimes. Computer crimes can involve prosecutions for illegal access to the data on someone’s computer or more serious crimes such as child pornography. At Solomon Richman, P.C. we have seen prosecutions for a wide range of computer crimes including wire fraud, identity theft and hacking. We know if you are facing any of these crimes that you need a defense attorney who understands not only the law, but the long-term implications of a guilty finding. Keep in mind that most computer crimes are subject to not only New York law but may also be prosecuted under federal law.

WHAT CONSTITUTES A COMPUTER CRIME?

Many people are surprised when they find out how many different crimes may be prosecuted under the “computer crime” umbrella. Child pornography charges may be the most recognized computer crime, but there are many more including:

Falsifying business records – if you are in charge of recording information for your business and fail to make accurate recordings of business transactions, you may be held responsible for a computer crime in addition to other charges you may be facing. Altering records, failing to record transactions or falsely recording information could mean you are liable under both fraud laws and computer laws.
Identity theft – someone who is accused of hacking into another’s computer for the sole purpose of stealing passwords, banking information or confidential documents could be held liable for a computer crime and be accused of identity theft.
Wire or bank fraud – anyone who collects funds through the Internet for illegal purposes could face both computer charges and wire or bank fraud charges.

More and more we depend on computers and the Internet for paying bills, communicating with coworkers, family and friends, and for obtaining information. Unfortunately, it is possible to find yourself in hot water simply by opening or sharing emails that contain illegal documents, child pornography or other people’s personal information. It is also important to note that computer crimes extend to other devices such as tablets and smartphones.

Being convicted of a computer crime can have long-term consequences. For example, someone who is charged and found guilty of distributing child pornography could be facing a lifetime classification as a registered sex offender. Anyone who is convicted of bank or wire fraud due to Internet transactions may be unable to work in any field that requires a bond. The consequences of many of these crimes are life-altering and in many cases are charged as felonies.

It is important to understand that computer crime charges are often used to enhance other charges since in many cases, they are redundant. If you have reason to believe that you are being investigated for computer crimes or identity theft crimes it is imperative you seek immediately legal help. Solomon Richman, P.C. has the experience and the know-how to defend you against these crimes. Call us at (516) 437-6443 as we are experienced computer-related criminal lawyers.