In Their Words: Cracking computer crimes

9-6-2009 National:

'Digital CSI' sleuth nabs Web, cell and other high-tech criminals

If you're thinking about doing something illegal on your personal computer, think again — and don't.

Guys such as Daniel Bien can seize your PC or cell phone to find the evidence to convict you. Bien is an investigator for the Computer Crimes Unit of the state police in Middletown.

The terrorists who hijacked the planes on 9/11 planned and communicated by e-mail and cell phones. After the attack, the state police expanded CCU to each troop in the state. We monitor Web sites for extremist activities involving jihadists, militia groups and white supremacists. We also investigate people who are suspected of terrorism against facilities like abortion clinics, and those who may be involved in any number of white-collar crimes. Now, how do we do that?

First, if our investigation shows probable cause, our unit obtains a search warrant to seize all the computers and cell phones in the suspect's place of residence or business, and off the suspect's person, as well. These days, there is a very fuzzy line between PDAs, smartphones and computers.

My partners and I are trained to forensically extract information that may be used in a court of law. We have techniques to open any file and find evidence without compromising the integrity of the data. We must ensure that a computer-savvy defense attorney cannot suggest in court that a CCU officer "planted" or "tampered" with evidence in a PC or phone.

We are involved in every type case, including homicides. If there's a question of who was the last person to talk to a certain murder victim on his or her cell or e-mailed the victim on a PC, we can find and extract that information. We have been able to recover a lot of deleted files that were thought to be gone forever. Think of us as digital CSI.

More than half of our time and caseload is involved in Internet-based child pornography cases. I can't emphasize how prevalent these types of crimes are.

I've recovered videos and digital photos that are very disturbing. I'm talking about children as young as three or four who are raped, or forced to engage in oral sex and pose in sexually explicit positions for the camera. And what makes this all the more insidious is the fact that seemingly ordinary, decent people have been arrested for their online activities involving children. Among those arrested and convicted have been people in law enforcement, politics and even the clergy.

Recently, CCU investigators were deputized as U.S. marshals to assist in federal investigations, the most recent being the arrests of 11 upper New York men who used the Internet to entice children for sexual purposes. This was a resounding victory for Capt.Frank Pace and his ICAC task force (Internet Crimes Against Children). I was proud to be a part of that operation.

A growing problem: Teen 'sexting'

Coupled with child pornography is this new fad called "sexting." The majority of kids across the country carry cell phones to school, and it's not uncommon for students to send each other nude photos of themselves. A boy might say to his girlfriend, "If you really 'love' me, you'll send me a naked photo of yourself." What she doesn't realize is that when she does take that photo, as soon as she presses the "send" button, she has automatically committed a felony and the boyfriend has committed a felony for possessing it.

Regarding sexting, we don't arbitrarily seize students' cell phones, and our goal is not so much to arrest these kids or have them labeled as sex offenders. We are simply trying to stop this behavior. Parent involvement is the key here.

Work and play both demanding

The job is hard and demanding. And sometimes it can be dangerous, too. When we execute search warrants or make arrests, the team always wears bulletproof vests and, of course, we're always armed. Criminals, especially those involved in the exploitation of children, sometimes feel they have nothing to lose once the police show up on their doorstep.

They do desperate and foolish things, thinking that their "life is over."

I try to divide my time between my career and my family while continuing to serve in the Army National Guard. I am a command sergeant major. I also did a tour of duty in Iraq.

Even though I love both jobs, some downtime is always appreciated. Last month, I was in the "Tour de Goshen." It's a fundraiser by cycling enthusiasts, and I am definitely one of those. I rode 62 miles that day in 90-degree heat, but that's the way I like to unwind.

Come Monday morning, I'll be recharged and ready to follow the electronic trail of some very bad people. ..Source.. by Sheldon Scruggs (Sheldon Scruggs profiles people in unique professions and odd jobs. He can be reached at sscruggs@th-record.com. In Their Words appears Sundays.)