Let a New Jersey Criminal Lawyer at Helmer Legal Fight Your Internet Crime Charges

Few experiences in life are as terrifying as being charged with a crime. Criminal convictions can carry with them the loss of your freedom, severe fines and other penalties, and the destruction of your reputation. Many people convicted of crimes lose their jobs and families. Many have difficulty finding places to live and work after they get out of prison.

Resolving a computer-related crime is usually more difficult than other criminal prosecutions. This is because the police can often obtain strong digital proof of a defendant’s involvement in the crime. In most cases, by the time you are charged with a crime, the police have already collected enough evidence to convince a jury of your guilt. And since the evidence is digital, it does not change over time as the memories of human witnesses often do.

Internet Crimes Require an Extensive Defense Strategy

The design of the Internet makes it very easy for innocent people to be wrongly accused of crimes. It is often impossible to determine which person or computer actually committed a specific crime. So, for example, if a digital criminal (or even a roommate or neighbor) connects to your home’s Wi-Fi network and commits a crime, the authorities may assume that you were responsible!

The Internet Law & Criminal Defense attorneys at Helmer, Conley & Kasselman, P.A. are well-versed in defending people accused of Internet and technology crimes. We have been involved with many computer crime prosecutions, including those for the following crimes:

• Identity Theft/Impersonation (N.J.S.A. 2C:21-17) – The use of another person’s Social Security number or identifying information is a serious crime. Each year, thousands of people are charged with identity theft for actions ranging from creating false identities, damaging other people’s credit, avoiding criminal charges, incurring debt, draining bank accounts, obtaining healthcare, and filing income tax returns. Creating imposter social media accounts on sites like Facebook and Twitter, reading another’s email, or accessing their electronic accounts can also result in serious criminal charges. We can help defend anyone charged with stealing another’s identity.
• Computer Theft (N.J.S.A. 2C:20-25) - Computer theft in New Jersey is a serious crime that carries with it penalties that range from fourth degree sanctions to first degree sentences of up to twenty (20) years in jail with mandatory periods of minimum parole ineligibility. Computer theft includes any unauthorized access to a computer or computer network. Something as simple as reading another person’s email without their permission may expose you to a felony prosecution, even if you don’t cause any damage at all. We can help those charged with computer theft in demonstrating their innocence.
• Stalking (N.J.S.A. 2C:12-10) - Online stalking occurs when someone uses the Internet to repeatedly threaten or harass another person with the intent of causing them fear or emotional distress. This includes following and tracking others (such as by using their phone’s GPS to monitor their location), as well as sending harassing messages by email, text, or instant messaging. Stalking and harassment can also include “cyber-bullying”, the act of creating fake social media profiles to intimidate or humiliate others. Penalties for stalking can include up to five years in jail and the entry of a restraining order against you, not to mention the damage to your future employability. The Internet crime lawyers at Helmer, Conley and Kasselman, P.A., can help those wrongly accused of such activities show their innocence.
• Invasion of Privacy (N.J.S.A. 2C:14-9) – The concept of “privacy” is a quaint anachronism to some. But in New Jersey, if you watch or record another person while they have sex without their consent, you have committed a serious crime. If you engage in “revenge porn” by publicly posting nude videos of your former boyfriend or girlfriend, you may be committing a crime. Penalties for Invasion of Privacy are punishable by sentences ranging from probation to five years in jail and up to a $30,000 fine. We can vigorously defend those accused of such activities.
• Online Fraud (N.J.S.A. 2C:20-3/2C:21-6) – Online fraud is on the rise. The news is rife with reports of credit card theft, Craigslist theft, eBay fraud, advance fee fraud scams (where someone asks you for a fee in order to receive a much larger sum of money, such as a lottery jackpot), phishing attacks (fraudulent email, typically requesting passwords or banking or credit information, that appears to come from a legitimate source), and other online fraud schemes. Penalties for online theft range from probation to up to ten years in prison. Our New Jersey Internet Law attorneys can help anyone charged with electronic fraud mount their defense.

If you have been charged with identity theft, cyberbullying, electronic stalking, or any other computer crime, do not hesitate to take action. The earlier you call us, the better position we will be in to help you avoid the serious consequences of a criminal conviction. Contact the criminal attorneys at Helmer, Conley & Kasselman, P.A. today at 856-547-7888. Call Us – Problem Solved.