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Phoenix Man Sentenced to 20 Years for Cybercrime

“Cybercrime” refers to a new wave of criminal activity that takes place strictly over the Internet. It often involves fraud of some type. A Phoenix man recently received a 20-year prison sentence for racketeering stemming from his role in a cybercrime organization that was accused of victimizing hundreds of thousands of people and several banks, according to recent reports.

A federal judge in Las Vegas sentenced David Camez, 22, to 20 years following his conviction of racketeering. Camez was already sentenced to serve seven years in Arizona for similar fraud crimes. Camez was one of 55 members of a group known as Carder.su. About 20 of the defendants have pleaded guilty, and the ones who have been sentenced so far have only received about two years each. Two dozen of those accused have not yet been apprehended.

This case is important because it is the first time the federal Justice Department has used the federal racketeering laws, original designed for use against organized crime syndicates, to prosecute cybercrime groups.

The Cybercrime Industry: Billions in Potential Fraud

Cybercrime has grown rapidly over the past few years and is quickly overtaking “traditional” crime such as bank robbery, according to the Nevada U.S. Attorney. The syndicate of which Camez is a part is accused of committing more than $50 million worth of fraud.

The group allegedly bought and sold stolen credit card information on an Internet site known as Carder.su. This group boasted more than 7,800 members worldwide.

Cadez, who allegedly became involved with the criminal enterprise at 17, was one of the youngest to ever be charged under the federal statutes. However, he was also, according to prosecutors, a facilitator of “rampant cyberfraud throughout the world.” He allegedly had nearly 2,000 compromised account numbers for stolen credit cards in his possession at the time of his arrest. Despite his young age, the judge, who said he had also been a victim of identity theft in the past, had little sympathy for the defendant.

What If I Am Accused of Internet Crimes?

It can be very difficult to establish that you were not involved in a criminal enterprise when the evidence consists of things found on your computer or allegedly done in your name online. In order to protect yourself if you are accused of cybercrimes, you need the help of a knowledgeable criminal defense attorney. Contact Alex Lane in Phoenix; with years of experience, Alex Lane can help you form a defense to your charges.




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If you have been charged with a DUI, drug charge, sex crime or any serious criminal offense, let an experienced defense team fight for you. Schedule a consultation with one of our partners today. Call (480) 562-3482 or send an email.