Cybercrime, Privacy and Internet Law

Federal cybercrime Internet law changes rapidly and presents increasingly serious risks for businesses and individual.

Ben Vernia has nearly a decade of experience in cybercrime law, beginning as a prosecutor in the Department of Justice's Criminal Division, where he investigated, indicted and tried complex Internet crimes involving entities engaging in child exploitation. In numerous cases Ben obtained search warrants, issued grand jury subpoenas, and seized Internet and computer-based evidence.

As a prosecutor, Ben brought innovative approaches to the analysis of complex computer-based evidence. In one money laundering case, he worked with forensic analysts to decipher a database of hundreds of thousands of purchases of child pornography website subscriptions. This work directly led Immigration and Customs Enforcement to launch Operation Falcon, providing leads to thousands of investigations worldwide, and the arrest of over 1500 child pornography customers. In 2005, Ben accepted the National Exploited Children’s Award on behalf of Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section of the Department of Justice for this effort.

Because of his extensive experience in these areas, the Department of Justice selected Ben Vernia to teach federal prosecutors and agents at the Department of Justice's National Advocacy Center in Columbia, South Carolina. He also taught cybercrime law and investigations to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Interpol, and the Organization of American States.

Since returning to private practice, Ben has advised the world's largest Internet Service Providers and software companies on subpoena and warrant compliance, substantive criminal law, and investigations. He has also represented individuals under investigation for cybercrime violations.