Internet sex crimes

Title 18 USC 2422 addresses some child sex crimes. It is unlawful to use the mail in interstate commerce to persuade or attempt to persuade a child under 18 to engage in prostitution or sexual activity. This includes the internet. Potential prison sentence is 5 years to 30 years.

 

Internet Solicitation of a child or minor

If you use the internet to lure a child to engage in sexual activity which is illegal in the state where the sex would occur, you could be convicted. This is so even if the minor is an undercover agent or cop. Internet solicitation of a minor is a common federal computer sex crime.

I have computers experts analyze each computer sex crimes case to help with the defense.

 

Child Pornography

The production, possession, distribution or sale of child pornography is also a crime. However, it is perfectly legal for you to distribute or possess images of what appear to be children engaging in sexual activity, IF no children were involved in producing the image. Federal law distinguishes between merely possessing child porn and trafficking in child porn. Trafficking carries a more substantial prison sentence.

 

Interstate Travel to engage in illegal sexual activity

18 USC 2423 addresses traveling in interstate commerce to engage in illegal sexual activity. As with internet solicitation of a minor, it does not matter that the minor is an undercover agent if the other elements are proved. The focus is on the defendant traveling with the proscribed illicit intent to engage in unlawful sexual activity. Potential prison sentence of 30 years.

 

Mailing obscene matter

18 USC 1461 outlaws mailing obscene material. However, there are defenses. If you were not aware that the material was going to be mailed, that would be a defense. For example, lets say hypothetically you posed for a lover and thought the video was just for the two of you. Later, your lover sold the videos through magazine advertisements. You should be found not guilty, with the right federal criminal lawyer representing you, because theres no proof that you knew the tapes were going to be used for that purpose.

 

Entrapment Defense

Many otherwise law-abiding citizens with no prior convictions, make a mistake and are entrapped by federal agents. The entrapment defense requires governmental inducement of the crime and the lack of defendants predisposition. So, the government has to persuade you in some way to commit the crime. At trial, once we put on evidence that you were induced to commit the crime, the burden of proof shifts to the government. The government must then prove beyond and to the exclusion of every reasonable doubt that you were predisposed to commit the crime. For many internet sex crimes cases, this is the only defense.

 

Sexual Predator Designation

The sexual predator designation is the "Scarlet Letter" that can haunt you for the rest of your life. You will have to register, probably have to move unless your house is very far away from any day care or school, and your face will be plastered on the internet.

 

Whether you are charged with solicitation of a child via the internet, internet sex crimes, child molesting, lewd and lascivious molestation, child pornography possession or distribution, statutory rape, prostitution charge or you want to discuss your entrapment defense, call me