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Computer Law/Email harassment

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Expert: - 8/8/2008


Question
Hi Chris,
I live in GA.  I have read all the posts regarding email hacking.  Here is my situation.  This has been going on since 1/2006.  I worked with someone and we ended our working relationship.  We still worked in the same industry and see each other frequently.  He began sending me demeaning emails and they escalated to death threats to my family and me.  As the emails escalated he began threatening co-workers and their families both physically and sexually.  He claims he is not sending these emails.  The police became involved in 4/08.  Due to gmail not showing the originating IP address proving it is him has been difficult.  The police subpoenaed gmail and the info they received was not useful.  The detective said she is going to re-subpoena gmail under the Patriot Act and they will provide all the emails from 1/2006 until the present.  The detective has been great but I realize this is not her only case.  My questions are how long does that process take and does gmail keep emails for that long.
Thank you,


Answer
Hi Kim,

From what you write you are actually very lucky. The detective that you have is actually doing more and better than most would. She seems to have a grasp on the requirements to get the right information. Most departments do not have people that are that well versed in the computer laws and such, your lucky there.

As for the time frame. It takes a LONG time for some of this to happen. Unless its an emergency, cases like these take months if not a year. Its because of all the outside people we have to rely on for information. The subpoena's we have to issue, then the subpoena's we issue based on the information from the first subpoena and so on. It gets to be a long trail sometimes. From one IP address to another to another, do you understand? So it takes a long time.

As for GMail. Remember that GMail is Google. And Google seems to be very good at record keeping. I have not heard of them keeping e-mail content that long, but they may. I know they do keep it for quite some time. They keep web page caches for years so maybe the e-mail will work that way also.

Your very lucky to have the detective you do. Its nice to know there are detectives out there that know what they are doing and doing a good job for people.

Good luck and be safe...

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Chris Wagoner

Expertise

I can answer questions concerning Computer Crime Investigations and Internet investigations including Computer Crime Laws both at the State level and Federal level. I can answer questions on almost any crime in which a computer is used. In addition I can answer questions concerning copywrite infringement (peer to peer, and copying). I served as a police Commander and conducted and still conduct Computer Crime Investigations at the Local, State and Federal level. I have investigated all most any kind of crime with which or which involved a computer and the internet, from murders, kidnappings, extortion, drug dealing and more. I can answer questions concerning Computer Forensics (the art of recovering information from a suspects computer), Computer Crime Investigations and Internet Investigations. I am a Federally Court Recognized Expert in Computer Crime and Computer Forensics. I have worked in both Facebook and MySPace, also in Peer to Peer investigations. In addition I can answer questions concerning child predators and how to make your children safer on-line. I teach Computer Forensics, Internet Investigations, Peer to Peer Investigations and other computer crime related subjects for several colleges and the Institute of Police Technology and Management. My hobby webpage - Military Videos - http://www.youtube.com/user/3rdID8487

Experience

I conduct computer crime investigations in conjunction with the F.B.I., Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, Gainesville Police Department, and University of Florida Police Department, Levi County Sheriff’s Office, Starke Police Department and other agencies in the North Florida Court District. I provide the forensic data recovery services for those agencies as well as internet tracing and information gathering. I am a Federal Court Certified Expert in Computer Crime Investigations and Forensics. I teach Computer Forensics for the University of North Florida, Institute of Police Technology and Management. I also teach Computer Crime courses for Tallahassee Community College, Pat Thomas Law Enforcement Training Center. Associate Instructor; teach Computer Crime courses thorough out the world for IPTM. Presently Teach Cyber Crime Investigations, Computer Crime Investigations and Computer Forensic Data Recovery Course.

Education/Credentials
2 Degrees in Criminal Justice, now teach college level Data Forensics classes

Awards and Honors
Awarded the FBI Directors Award for assisting the FBI in a National Computer Crime Investigation. Awarded Dec 2002

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