California Cyber Crime Offenses

California Vehicle Code 20001, 20002 and 20003

Home > Criminal Defense > Internet Crimes
Cyber Crime charges in California

Charged with Internet Crimes or Computer Crimes?

You need a top SF Bay Area Criminal Defense attorney to defend you. Successful defense for computer crimes includes probable cause, entrapment, search and seizure, and computer access.

Contact Ginny Walia Law Offices now to start protecting your rights!

What are Computer Crimes?

  • Computer identity theft
  • Criminal pirating
  • Hacking, fishing (phishing)
  • Internet gaming fraud
  • Internet sales fraud
  • Purchase of illegal prescription drugs or steroids via the Internet
  • Theft of programming code

Computer/Internet Crime Conviction Penalties

Under the Federal Criminal law and the California Penal Code, there are several sections that vigorously prosecute and punish crimes involving computers.

  • Fines $1000 to $10000
  • 16 months to 3 years in State prison

California Penal Code 502(a)

The California Legislature enacted Penal Code Section 502(a) for the integrity of all types and forms of lawfully created computers, computer systems, and computer data is vital to the protection of the privacy of individuals as well as to the well-being of financial institutions, business concerns, governmental agencies, and others within this state that lawfully utilize those computers, computer systems, and data.

Anyone who Knowingly accesses and without permission alters, damages, deletes, destroys, or otherwise uses any data, computer, computer system, or computer network in order to either (A) devise or execute any scheme or artifice to defraud, deceive, or extort, or (B) wrongfully control or obtain money, property, or data is guilty of this statute.

For a first violation that does not result in injury, it is an infraction punishable by a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars. Any violation that results in a victim expenditure in an amount greater than five thousand dollars may result in imprisonment in the State prison for 16 months, or two or three years and/or fine not exceeding ten thousand dollars.

Federal Computer Crimes

  • 18 U.S.C. § 1029. Fraud and Related Activity in Connection with Access Devices 18 U.S.C. §
  • 1030. Fraud and Related Activity in Connection with Computers 18 U.S.C. § 1362. Communication Lines, Stations, or Systems
  • 18 U.S.C. § 2511. Interception and Disclosure of Wire, Oral, or Electronic Communications Prohibited
  • 18 U.S.C. § 2701. Unlawful Access to Stored Communications
  • 18 U.S.C. § 2702. Disclosure of Contents
  • 18 U.S.C. § 2703. Requirements for Governmental Access