Internet Crimes

At the time of this writing, internet and computer crime charges can be brought under state law, federal law, or both, and they often turn on digital evidence such as device data, account records, and online messages. The pages below explain, in general terms, the kinds of cases Attorney Ron Frey of The Frey Law Firm, LLC handles: hacking and unauthorized computer access, internet sex crimes, child pornography (now commonly referred to as child sexual abuse material, or CSAM), online solicitation, online fraud, and social media evidence. Attorney Ron Frey has practiced criminal defense since 2004, and laws in this area change often, so it is generally wise to discuss the details of any specific situation with an attorney. For students, see College Student Internet, Computer, and AI Charges, Explained.

Computer Crime Lawyer for Internet and Cyber Crime Charges

Attorney Ron Frey defends clients facing state and federal computer crime, cyber crime and internet crime charges. Whether a case starts with a tip from an online platform, a search warrant, or a call from an agent, an internet and computer crime defense lawyer can step in early, review the evidence and explain what comes next.

Cyber Crime Defense Cases We Handle

• Online solicitation and federal enticement allegations
• Hacking and unauthorized computer access
• Internet fraud, crypto and wire fraud, and identity theft
• Sextortion and internet sex crime allegations
• AI-generated images and other AI crime allegations. These cases are often prosecuted, can violate a number of criminal laws, and can lead to civil lawsuits.

Why Call a Lawyer for Internet Crimes Early

Online platforms report suspected activity and respond to legal process, so the records in these cases can be detailed. A computer crime attorney looks at how the information was collected and interpreted. Every case is evaluated on its own facts, and you shouldn’t rely on the internet or AI for answers about yours. Call The Frey Law Firm, LLC, for a Free Initial Confidential Consultation at (844) 766-3739 or (813) 775-2276.

FAQ

What is the difference between a cyber crime lawyer and a criminal defense lawyer? A cyber crime lawyer is a criminal defense attorney who focuses on cases involving computers, devices and online accounts.

Can my case be federal? Some internet crime cases are charged in state court and others in federal court. An attorney can review which applies to your situation.

What if police took my phone or computer? Speak with an attorney first, before answering questions or agreeing to anything.

Do you handle internet fraud cases? Yes, including crypto and wire fraud and identity theft allegations.

State and Federal Internet Crime Cases

The same online conduct can be charged in state court, in federal court, or in both. State cases are generally brought by local police, sheriff’s offices or state agencies. Federal cases often involve agencies such as the FBI or Homeland Security Investigations. Which court a case lands in can shape bond, the potential penalties and the strategy. Attorney Ron Frey is licensed in Florida, Ohio and North Carolina and handles federal cases. For what happens early in a case, see Florida bond and pretrial detention and federal pretrial release and detention. If a case moves toward sentencing, see federal sentencing in internet crime cases. Laws change, and every case is evaluated on its own facts.

How Internet Crime Investigations Generally Start

Internet crime cases can begin in many ways. Some start with a tip, a report from an online platform, or an undercover chat. Others start with a search warrant at a home, a device seized at an airport, a call from a detective, or a federal target letter. Attorney Ron Frey reviews how every stop, search, seizure, inquiry, investigation, arrest or target letter came about, because the Fourth Amendment limits how police and agents gather evidence. In online sting cases, the details of the conversation can matter, including in federal enticement charges under 18 U.S.C. § 2422(b). If you have never been in trouble before, see what first-time offenders should know.

Devices and Digital Evidence

Most internet crime cases turn on digital evidence. That can include data from phones, computers, external drives, cloud accounts, and records from apps and internet providers. Investigators often rely on forensic tools to pull files, chats, metadata and location data, and those tools and reports can be questioned. The defense may look at whether a warrant covered what was searched, who else had access to a device, and whether files were opened, downloaded automatically, or never viewed at all. Messages and posts from social media accounts and even AI chats and prompts are now showing up as evidence. Our post on peer-to-peer (P2P) network investigations explains how some file-sharing cases begin.

Types of Internet Crime Cases

• Child pornography (CSAM), including possession, distribution and production charges.
• Solicitation of a minor, including Florida solicitation and traveling charges from online sting operations.
• Internet sex crimes, a broad group of charges that come from online conversations, images or meetings.
• Sextortion, where someone is accused of threatening to share private images unless the other person pays or sends more.
• Revenge porn and sexual cyberharassment, which covers accusations of posting private images of another person without consent.
• Hacking and unauthorized computer access, including charges under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act.
• Financial crimes carried out online, such as identity theft and wire fraud involving cryptocurrency.
• Social media crimes, where posts, messages or accounts become the basis for a charge.
• College students facing criminal charges, campus discipline, or both.

Charges can involve AI-generated images and deepfakes, including images made without any real photo. Some cases involve fraud using cloned voices. Newer questions involve agentic AI, where software acts on a person’s behalf and it isn’t necessarily clear who is responsible. See the AI crimes overview for more.

If You Are Contacted by Investigators

A call or visit from a detective or federal agent can come before any charge is filed. Attorney Ron Frey generally advises anyone in that position to stay calm, to be polite, to exercise the right to remain silent and to speak with an attorney before making any statements. Keep any paperwork you are given, such as a search warrant, property receipt or target letter. An attorney may be able to deal with investigators for you.

Free, Confidential Initial Consultation

Many internet and computer cases in Florida also include a separate charge for unlawful use of a two-way communications device.

If you are under investigation or have been charged with an internet, computer or AI-related crime, you can speak with Attorney Ron Frey in a free, confidential initial consultation by phone, by video or in person at the office in downtown Tampa. Call (844) 766-3739 or contact the firm online. Attorney Ron Frey is a conference speaker and published author, and he taught computers and the law as an adjunct professor at Ursuline College. To learn more about his background, read How Attorney Ron Frey Came to Defend Internet and Computer Crime Cases.