New Orleans Cyber Crimes Defense

Have you been accused of a Cyber Crime?

Cyber crime is known as any crime involving a computer or a network. With the ever changing digital world and computers becoming a part of our daily lives, computers are now a huge source of criminal and law enforcement activity in Louisiana and throughout the United States.  These crimes can be prosecuted in both state and federal courts. If you or someone you know has been accused of any type of cyber crime in New Orleans area, it is absolutely imperative to consult with an attorney who is well-versed in the aspect of criminal law pertaining to computer technology. Elizabeth Bagert Carpenter, an award winning criminal defense attorney in New Orleans, has been defending cyber crimes for years.

What is a Cyber Crime?

Cyber crime is not a single offense. Instead, it’s a blanket term that describes several different crimes that all involve use of the internet or computers. While you may be familiar with “hacking” from television shows and movies, a broader variety of activities may qualify as computer crimes. Both Louisiana State and federal laws include provisions intended to protect the computers, computer systems, and computer networks of individuals, businesses, and organizations across the state. Louisiana criminalizes many computer-related activities that affect the functionality, use, or confidentiality of computer data, computers, computer systems, and computer networks.

Louisiana and Federal Cyber Crimes

Because the internet crosses state lines, criminal offenses accomplished with a computer can be charged as federal crimes. In many instances, special agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation team up with local police to pursue computer hackers and white collar criminals engaged in cybercrime.

    • Identify theft — Stealing someone’s Social Security number or other identifying information or one’s own advantage constitutes identity theft, which is often carried out online.
    • Credit card theft — While there are modes of defrauding credit card companies, the most prevalent one is using a computer to capture and use other people’s credit card information.
    • Phishing — This tactic is using a deceptive email to lure another person into a trap where their identifying information can be accessed.
    • Email fraud — An electronic communication that is used to accomplish or aid in a theft is an act of fraud.
    • Computer hacking — Gaining unauthorized access to another party’s computer records opens the hacker to federal criminal prosecutions well as to civil liability for damages.
    • SIM card Swap

If you are charged with any of these offenses or believe you are under investigation, you need an experienced criminal defense attorney who can protect your rights and work towards the best possible resolution. Attorney Carpenter understands the elements of the charges the authorities must prove and knows how to assess evidence and to challenge questionable police procedures. When you retain her services, you get an aggressive attorney who will work tirelessly on your behalf.

Who can be charged with a Computer Crime?

An individual who accesses a computer or computer network and alters any part may be charged with a computer crime. The applicable type of internet crime depends on the defendant’s motive for engaging in the unlawful access. For example, if you are being charged with a computer crime, a prosecutor may need to show that you wanted to execute a plan for deception, fraud, or extortion, or to take control of information, money, or property that did not belong to you. Other types of cyber crime involve accessing a computer for the purpose of disseminating a virus or luring a minor for an unlawful sexual encounter and child exploitation crimes (child pornography).

Contact: New Orleans Cyber Crimes Attorney

A computer crime attorney can ensure that your rights are fully protected at every stage of the legal process, from preliminary hearing through jury trial. The attorney can also sometimes work with prosecutors and judges to negotiate alternative sentencing as opposed to standard imprisonment. If you are under investigation for or have you been charged with a cyber crime in New Orleans contact a criminal defense attorney today!