If you are facing charges related to child pornography, working closely with an attorney who will explain your rights and options can help you make decisions that are in your best interests. Contact our firm today to schedule a consultation and case evaluation with an experienced Internet crime attorney.
Farmington Hills, Michigan, Internet Crime Defense Lawyer
If you have been accused of Internet fraud, Internet crime against a child, an Internet sex crime, Internet pornography or a different Internet criminal offense, a lawyer will zealously advocate for the enforcement of your Constitutional rights. Internet crime defense attorneys of the Schwartz Law Firm in Farmington Hills, Michigan, will act in your best interest. Whether negotiating an effective plea bargain or handling the matter in the courtroom, you can be sure we will prepare your Internet Crime defense with an eye for trial.
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Internet Crime - An Overview
The Internet has changed everyday life in ways too numerous to count. Instantaneous communication with people all over the world has become commonplace. The new technology has also created new legal issues, particularly in the area of criminal law. If you are facing charges of Internet crimes, including possession of child pornography and soliciting sex from a minor, contact an attorney from Schwartz Law Firm in Farmington Hills, Michigan, for help.
Child Pornography
The anonymity of the Internet has allowed persons who commit certain offenses against children to operate in relative safety. Child pornography is sold and distributed with ease over the Internet. In addition, adults who prey on children often befriend children they meet online and arrange meetings with them for sexual purposes. The children who agree to meet an online "friend" typically do so without knowing that the person on the other end is an adult pretending to be a child.
Law enforcement agencies, on both the state and federal levels, have made the investigation of Internet crimes against children one of their top priorities. Local police and federal agencies like the FBI are applying new techniques to detect crimes against children. One of these techniques is the so-called "sting" operation, in which law enforcement officers pose as people interested in buying or swapping child pornography. The information gained in the transaction is used to find and prosecute both the sellers and buyers and people who are in possession of the pornographic materials.
Criminal penalties for child pornography are often severe. Sometimes jail and prison sentences are mandatory, along with lifetime registration as a sexual offender. Defenses are available to individuals who download or share images that turn out to be child pornography. If you have been charged or are about to be charged, call an attorney for legal help right away.
Solicitation of Minors
Law enforcement officers frequently pretend to be underage individuals in Internet chat rooms — even adults-only, sexually oriented Web sites. Some of these police officers are expert at identifying people who are lonely or unaware to get them "to solicit or entice" some kind of meeting or sexual activity. Suddenly, they are facing a felony charge, prison time and lifetime registration as a sexual predator.
These cases can be brought against people who did not intend to engage in sexual activity with an underage person; they thought they were just fantasizing anonymously on the Internet. If a friend or family member is facing these charges, contact a lawyer who is tough, computer literate and sophisticated.
Internet Fraud
The Internet is also used to commit fraud. New types of fraudulent schemes are increasingly common, including:
- Nigerian 419 scams: asking for bank account information and cash payments to move a large amount of money out of the country
- Phishing: impersonating a legitimate business or governmental agency in order to obtain bank account or credit card information
- Identity theft: using or selling a person's Social Security number, bank account numbers and credit card numbers
Tracking down and prosecuting the party who allegedly engaged in online fraud can be difficult. Prosecution is also complicated by the reluctance of many victims to come forward and report the crime due to their embarrassment.
Conclusion
As the Internet continues to develop, new legal issues will also develop. New types of crime, and new theories for criminal prosecution, will be implemented to meet the continually evolving state of the online world. Internet crime is undergoing constant change. If you have been charged with an Internet crime, seek legal advice from an attorney who is knowledgeable in this area of the law, like an attorney from Schwartz Law Firm in Farmington Hills, Michigan.
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