Cyber Crimes
Federal cybercrime allegations can result in prison, fines, restitution, asset forfeiture, professional consequences, and lasting reputational damage. These investigations often involve complex digital evidence, including computers, mobile devices, cloud accounts, IP records, cryptocurrency transactions, emails, and access logs.
R. Michael Bullotta is a Detroit cybercrime defense lawyer and former federal prosecutor representing individuals and businesses facing serious federal investigations and charges.
Bullotta Law assists clients during FBI interviews, search warrant proceedings, grand jury investigations, indictments, plea negotiations, trials, and sentencing.
What Is a Federal Cybercrime?
Cybercrime is a broad term covering alleged criminal conduct involving computers, networks, online accounts, electronic communications, or digital information.
The primary federal computer-crime statute is the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, or CFAA, codified at 18 U.S.C. § 1030. The law addresses several forms of unauthorized computer access, computer-related fraud, obtaining protected information, and intentionally damaging protected computers.
Common federal cybercrime allegations include:
Unauthorized computer or network access
Exceeding authorized access
Computer fraud
Data theft
Identity theft
Phishing and account takeover
Business email compromise
Ransomware-related conduct
Theft of passwords or access credentials
Cryptocurrency fraud
Online extortion
Damage to computer systems
Wire fraud involving electronic communications
Cybercrime charges may be combined with wire fraud, conspiracy, aggravated identity theft, access-device fraud, money laundering, or obstruction allegations. Recent federal prosecutions demonstrate that hacking investigations frequently involve multiple overlapping charges.
How Cybercrime Investigations Begin
Federal cybercrime investigations may begin after a company reports a breach, a financial institution flags suspicious transfers, or law enforcement receives information from an internet service provider, former employee, cooperating witness, or foreign agency.
Investigators may examine:
Device and server logs
IP addresses
Login records
Emails and text messages
Cloud storage accounts
Cryptocurrency wallets
Banking activity
Browser histories
Deleted files
Social media accounts
Recorded communications
Federal search warrants may authorize agents to seize computers, phones, storage devices, business records, and login credentials.
Do not delete files, erase devices, destroy records, or attempt to access accounts after learning of an investigation. Such conduct may create additional legal exposure.
Speak With a Detroit Cybercrime Defense Lawyer
R. Michael Bullotta spent 23 years as an Assistant United States Attorney in Detroit and Los Angeles before representing individuals and businesses facing federal investigations.
Contact Bullotta Law for a complimentary, confidential consultation before speaking with federal investigators or responding to a subpoena.
