Effective White Collar Crimes Attorney Defending Greenville Clients Accused of Computer Crimes
Computer crimes encompass a wide range of criminal acts. In essence, a computer crime is using a computer or the internet to defraud someone else for your personal gain. This includes accessing information you shouldn’t be privy to, stealing electronic funds, hacking into financial systems, and more. If you have been charged with a computer crime, you need the help of an effective criminal defense attorney, as you could be facing felony charges and up to ten years in jail.
Computer Crime Law
According to South Carolina law, you can be charged with a computer crime for:
- directly or indirectly accessing a computer, computer system, or computer network for the purpose of:
- devising or executing a scheme or artifice to defraud;
- obtaining money, property, or services by means of false or fraudulent pretenses, representations, promises; or
- committing any other related crime
- altering, damaging, destroying, or modifying a computer, computer system, computer network, computer software, computer program, or data contained in that computer, computer system, computer program, or computer network or introduce a contaminant into that computer, computer system, computer program, or computer network
Punishments for Computer Crimes
Depending on the crime, you could be charged with a misdemeanor, $200 fine, and 30 days in jail for third-degree computer crimes. A second-degree crime carries a misdemeanor charge, a $10,000 fine and up to a year in jail. The most serious computer crimes (first-degree) incur a felony charge, up to $50,000 in fines, and up to five years in jail. Felony charges typically involve stealing more than $10,000 in funds electronically or damaging the owner’s systems.
