Cybercrime (formerly known as Computer Crime) is charged in Fort Collins and Larimer County for many different types of offenses related to computer access and networks. A recent Colorado Cybercrime case is getting national attention after a man was arrested for illegally accessing a cryptocurrency company and taking millions of dollars. According to the report, the man found a bug in the software and was able to use that issue to illegally acquire the money.
Larimer County Cybercrime Lawyer: Definition of Cybercrime in Colorado
The Larimer County, Colorado law definition of Cybercrime – C.R.S. 18-5.5-102 – is:
(a) Accesses a computer, computer network, or computer system or any part thereof without authorization; exceeds authorized access to a computer, computer network, or computer system or any part thereof; or uses a computer, computer network, or computer system or any part thereof without authorization or in excess of authorized access; or
(b) Accesses any computer, computer network, or computer system, or any part thereof for the purpose of devising or executing any scheme or artifice to defraud; or
(c) Accesses any computer, computer network, or computer system, or any part thereof to obtain, by means of false or fraudulent pretenses, representations, or promises, money; property; services; passwords or similar information through which a computer, computer network, or computer system or any part thereof may be accessed; or other thing of value; or
(d) Accesses any computer, computer network, or computer system, or any part thereof to commit theft; or
(e) Without authorization or in excess of authorized access alters, damages, interrupts, or causes the interruption or impairment of the proper functioning of, or causes any damage to, any computer, computer network, computer system, computer software, program, application, documentation, or data contained in such computer, computer network, or computer system or any part thereof; or
(f) Causes the transmission of a computer program, software, information, code, data, or command by means of a computer, computer network, or computer system or any part thereof with the intent to cause damage to or to cause the interruption or impairment of the proper functioning of or that actually causes damage to or the interruption or impairment of the proper functioning of any computer, computer network, computer system, or part thereof; or
(g) Uses or causes to be used a software application that runs automated tasks over the internet to access a computer, computer network, or computer system, or any part thereof, that circumvents or disables any electronic queues, waiting periods, or other technological measure intended by the seller to limit the number of event tickets that may be purchased by any single person in an online event ticket sale as defined in section 6-1-720, C.R.S.; or
(h) Solicits or offers to arrange a situation in which a minor may engage in prostitution, by means of using a computer, computer network, computer system, or any part thereof; or
(i) Directly or indirectly uses a scanning device to access, read, obtain, memorize, or store, temporarily or permanently, information encoded on the payment card without the permission of the authorized user of the payment card, and with the intent to defraud the authorized user, the issuer of the authorized user’s payment card, or a merchant; or
(j) Directly or indirectly uses an encoding machine to place information encoded on the payment card onto a different payment card without the permission of the authorized user of the payment card from which the information being reencoded was obtained, and with the intent to defraud the authorized user, the issuer of the authorized user’s payment card, or a merchant.
As you can see, there are many different scenarios that can land a person with Cybercrime charges. The man in the cryptocurrency story could be charged under subsection (b) and/or (d) depending on which angle the state wants to argue.
Sentence for Cryptocurrency Cybercrime Criminal Charge in Loveland and Estes Park
In Fort Collins, Loveland, and Estes Park, Cybercrime is charged differently depending on the damages and/or subsection the person is charged under. When there is an allegation of Cybercrime for Theft, the following applies:
- Less than three hundred dollars, cybercrime is a petty offense;
- Three hundred dollars or more but less than one thousand dollars, cybercrime is a class 2 misdemeanor;
- One thousand dollars or more but less than two thousand dollars, cybercrime is a class 1 misdemeanor;
- Two thousand dollars or more but less than five thousand dollars, cybercrime is a class 6 felony;
- Five thousand dollars or more but less than twenty thousand dollars, cybercrime is a class 5 felony;
- Twenty thousand dollars or more but less than one hundred thousand dollars, cybercrime is a class 4 felony;
- One hundred thousand dollars or more but less than one million dollars, cybercrime is a class 3 felony; and
- One million dollars or more, cybercrime is a class 2 felony.
The man above would be facing the class 2 felony Cybercrime charge, as the allegation is that he stole millions of dollars in cryptocurrency.
If you or someone you love has been charged with Cybercrime, be smart, exercise your right to remain silent, and contact the best criminal defense attorneys from the O’Malley Law Office at 970-658-0007 to schedule a free initial consultation. Together, we can protect your future.
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