If you need help now, call 612-436-3051
or
use our confidential form here
Federal computer fraud is governed by 18 U.S.C. § 1030 and is a very long, complicated statute. You can violate this statute, for example, by knowing accessing a computer without having authorization or exceeding your authorized access and getting protected information (as determined by the United States) and having reason to believe that such information could injure the United States. The sentence depends on the facts of the case and the part of the statute charged. See here. You’ll want to hire an internet crimes attorney in MN if your are charged with an internet or media crime.
Perhaps even more relevant to the modern age is federal copyright infringement, governed by 17 U.S.C. § 506 and 18 U.S.C. § 2319. If you willfully infringe a copyright for financial gain, for example, you could be sentenced to up to 5 years in prison and/or a fine. See here and here.
The preceding was a summary of the law. It does not describe all of the elements of the crimes. Laws are also constantly changing. You need to contact a skilled criminal defense attorney, like Ryan Garry to discuss the offenses in detail and with respect to your own particular case. Nothing in this description or anywhere on this site is legal advice.