St. Lucie Internet Crimes Lawyers

If you or a family member are accused or under any investigation for an internet crime in St. Lucie County, including Port St. Lucie, St. Lucie West, Tradition, Fort Pierce, and Lakewood Park, it is critical that you seek the legal advice of a criminal defense lawyer immediately. Due to recent advancements in technology, criminal activity is no longer limited to the physical world. It can also happen behind the wall of a computer or on the internet. Internet crimes refer to any crime committed over the web. Whether it’s because of the anonymity of the internet or lack of knowledge of what constitutes a criminal act online, cyber crimes are on the rise. However, this also means a rise in wrongful allegations toward innocent individuals.

The Law Offices of David Golden, P.A. can protect your rights if you have been accused of an internet crime. This area of the law can be confusing, so it’s important that you get a knowledgeable and experienced St. Lucie internet crimes lawyer to handle your case. To schedule a free consultation to discuss your case, contact us immediately at772-336-4357.

Do I Need a Cyber Crime Attorney?

Being accused of and charged with any crime is a serious matter. You may be facing life-altering consequences like jail time, fines, loss of employment, a criminal record, and significant strains on your reputations and relationships. Even if you know you are innocent, you need to take action to ensure your rights and liberties are protected throughout the process. Federal and state authorities are cracking down on identity theft and other internet crimes more than ever before, so it’s important to have someone with knowledge of this legal field and the criminal court process in your corner every step of the way.

Internet Criminal Cases We Handle

The state of Florida enacts strict penalties and punishments on those convicted of cyber crimes including up to five years behind bars, $5,000 in fines, and, for certain charges, registering as a sex offender, upending every aspect of your life. Some common internet crimes we handle at The Law Offices of David Golden, P.A. include:

• Child Pornography: Charges of child pornography includes any action related to transmitting, viewing, storing, or soliciting pornographic images and video of minors under the age of 18. Under federal law, a conviction results in a minimum of five years in prison.
• Kidnapping: Also known as virtual kidnapping, this involves an extortion scheme to trick victims into paying ransoms for friends or family members they believe have been kidnapped and are in danger of violence or death. Virtual kidnappers have not actually kidnapped anyone and instead coerce victims into paying ransoms through threats.
• Identity Theft: When someone gains access to a victim’s personally identifiable information (PII) using malware to steal their identity and commit fraud. This includes driver’s license, bank accounts, and other sensitive information like a Social Security number.
• Credit Card Fraud: Using a credit or debit card unlawfully or without proper authorization over the internet to acquire money or goods. This includes actions such as stealing credit card numbers from unsecured websites, getting credit card information through identity theft, or using someone else’s credit card without their permission for an online purchase.
• Fraud: Internet fraud is using software or the internet to defraud and take advantage of victims. Typically this involves infiltrating legitimate business email accounts, breaching data, or phishing to steal large sums of money.
• Drug Charges: Any act that involves purchasing, selling, or delivering illegal drugs and controlled substances over the internet constitutes a drug crime and carries severe consequences, including a minimum of 10 years and a max of a life sentence.
• Pyramid Schemes: This is one of the oldest types of scams, where victims are duped into paying money to sell the scheme to another individual, while the early sellers collect a portion of every sale in the future. Eventually, the pyramid falls apart once people figure out the product is worthless.
• Work from Home Schemes: Offers over the internet and email for get-rich-quick schemes where victims believe they can work from home doing mundane tasks like stuffing envelopes or processing medical billing and make lucrative amounts of money.
• Virus Distributing: When a hacker or group of hackers creates and distributes malicious software to achieve a specific criminal goal. In most cases this involves accessing bank accounts, running spam campaigns, or Distribute Network Attacks (DDos).
• Internet Sex Crimes: Any action that is sexual in nature and committed over the internet could be considered an internet sex crime. This includes possessing or distributing child pornography, attempting to encourage a minor to participate in a chat room or to meet in person, and sending a minor inappropriate or provocative images or video. Penalties for these crimes are harsh and include prison time and sex offender registration.
• Phishing: When an individual accesses a computer without authorization and proceeds to send multiple emails or re-sends numerous commercial email messages in hopes of deceiving the recipients, including spam messages. Offenders face a possible three-year sentence for first offense.
• Hacking: Knowingly and willingly breaking in and accessing a computer or facility where electronic communication service is provided to view or steal data. This includes accessing a secure server or someone’s email account for a commercial advantage.
• Gambling: Illegally engaging in any bet or wager on a sporting event or other contest over the internet. Non-sports betting laws and regulations vary from state to state. These actions are illegal under federal law and punishable with up to two years in prison.

Whatever internet crime you have been charged with, the criminal defense lawyers at The Law Offices of David Golden, P.A. can help you.

Contact Us Today

At The Law Offices of David Golden, P.A., we have been handling internet crime cases for almost as long as the internet has existed. We are familiar with these confusing laws and will be able to identify the most effective defense strategy for your case. If convicted, your consequences could be life-changing, so it’s important that you have the best defense attorney on your side. To discuss your case and legal options, call ustoday at 772-336-4357.