San Diego prosecutors assigned to combat cyber crime

[William Knowles <wk () C4I ORG>]

http://www.vny.com/cf/News/upidetail.cfm?QID=145136

Sunday, 17 December 2000

SAN DIEGO, Dec. 17 (UPI) -- A team of three federal prosecutors in San
Diego will this week begin its new task of exclusively investigating
and prosecuting computer crimes in a two-county area filled with
military bases and defense contractors.

Gregory A. Vega, the U.S. attorney for San Diego and Imperial
Counties, said the team will be headed up by Assistant U.S. Attorney
Barbara Major. The group will become the lead prosecuting agency in
the area of federal computer-related crimes, including hacker
intrusions and threats sent over the Internet.

"The Internet is a critical part of our infrastructure, and the United
States Attorney's Office is committed to taking all steps to protect
the integrity of the Internet," Vega said in a statement issued late
Friday.

Vega added that, due to the large military presence in San Diego,
there have been a considerable number of attacks and attempted
break-ins directed against computer systems in the region.

The FBI last month opened its first multi-agency laboratory devoted to
fighting computer crime in San Diego. It will assist state, local and
federal law enforcement agencies, including the Defense Criminal
Investigative Service and the Drug Enforcement Administration, in
tracking down cyber-criminals.

"The number of investigations related to high technology has grown
rapidly, and we are elated to see this kind of commitment from the
U.S. Attorney," said the head of the San Diego FBI office, William D.
Gore.



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