The number of criminal charges that federal prosecutors can bring against an individual has risen with the increase of technology for everything we do. Internet crimes are usually taken federally because the cases are difficult and computer devices are a ready-made link to federal jurisdiction.

Common Internet crimes include:

• Identity theft

• Online credit card fraud

• Bank fraud

• Telecommunications fraud

• Forgery scams

• Software piracy

• Drug trafficking

• Child pornography offenses

• Other Internet sex crimes such as sexual harassment and solicitation of a minor

Actions on the internet usually leave trails of evidence that investigators can gather from third parties, such as internet platforms. Evidence usually includes chats, emails, as well as exchanges on Facebook, Twitter, and other social-media websites. The Fifth Circuit, for instance, recently upheld a conviction where Facebook had tipped off the Center for Missing and Exploited Children of a chat between two of its members.

It is crucial that your legal counsel be familiar with not only way these technologies work, but also the rules of evidence. Many cases have been lost because defense lawyers were not familiar with the intricacies of how the rules of evidence apply to the latest technologies.