Strong Defense Against Identity Theft & Internet Fraud Charges

The computer age makes crimes like identity theft and embezzlement much more common, and it presents the possibility of entirely new crimes never thought possible in the past. The penalties for these new crimes are no less severe than traditional ones, however.

Defending You Against Internet Criminal Charges

If you are charged with an internet crime, you need a lawyer who is familiar with the complexities of computer crimes and other areas of criminal law. My name is Donald D. Cleveland. As an attorney serving Lafayette, Louisiana, and St. Martin Parish, I will use experience and skill to defend you against computer crime charges.

I can defend you against charges like:

• Identity theft
• Fraud
• Internet-based embezzlement
• Spam
• Harassment
• Drug trafficking

A Different Kind Of Crime ∙ A Different Kind Of Representation

Computers can make criminal behavior much simpler, but they make things much more complicated for the criminal defense lawyer. In particular, the fact-finding process involves more steps and a greater level of complexity. For example, in a case of computer embezzlement or fraud:

• The evidence is much harder to attain and document because of computer encryption and storage techniques.
• Every aspect of the case needs to be documented more thoroughly.
• Many aspects of the evidence or defense fall into hearsay, inadmissible at trial.
• There are complicated issues associated with the service providers and other technical aspects.

The immediate stakes for computer crimes like identity theft or embezzlement are obvious: jail time and fines. But the long-term consequences can be severe to you and your family’s future. I use experience and skill to navigate this complicated legal process, and my law firm can defend you effectively. When you hire me, I am committed to fighting for your future.

Frequently Asked Questions About Internet And Computer Crime Charges

Online activity can create evidence that may not tell the whole story. Questions about account access, intent and permission may affect how prosecutors view a charge. The following answers address issues involving online conduct:

Can I be charged for something posted from my account if I did not post it?

Yes, police may investigate or charge you when content came from an account connected to you. However, account ownership does not prove that you created or posted it. Someone else may have known your password, used a shared device or accessed it.

Evidence may include login records, device data, internet protocol addresses, timestamps and communications. Investigators may also consider whether you reported unauthorized access. A defense can challenge the claim that control of an account proves authorship, knowledge or criminal intent.

Can a mistake or misunderstanding in an online transaction be treated as fraud?

A dispute may lead to a fraud investigation, but a failed transaction or misunderstanding does not establish fraud by itself. Fraud charges generally require proof that you intended to deceive or obtain something through false statements or conduct. Louisiana’s computer fraud law also addresses using a computer with intent to defraud or obtain property through false representations.

Records can help separate a mistake from deliberate conduct. Messages, receipts, refund attempts, payment records and transaction terms may show what you understood and intended. The sequence matters because prosecutors should not treat every broken agreement or incorrect statement as a crime.

I used someone else’s card with permission—why am I charged with fraud?

You may face charges if the cardholder later denies giving permission or claims your use exceeded it. A bank, merchant or investigator may see only the complaint and transaction record when deciding whether the use was unauthorized.

Louisiana access device fraud law addresses conduct involving an access device without authorization and with intent to defraud. Permission may therefore be important, but its scope also matters. Text messages, witnesses, purchase details and prior use of the card may help show whether permission existed and what it allowed.

I Will Fight For Your Future

Contact me in Lafayette Parish by completing my online contact form or calling 337-572-9874. You are more than a case number to me, and I will fight as if your future depends on it, because it does.