I'm not sure if this story got posted here - the troubled girl who committed suicide after being harassed by a mother down the street posing as a teenage boy on my space...

Anyway, the mother just got indicted by the feds, not the state. The state couldn't find any laws broken. So, unless every server that passes every packet is located in your same state, the feds can prosecute internet crimes that they would normally have no business prosecuting.

This took place completely and entirely in a small town in Missouri. Should this be a federal case?

(I do indeed think what the mother did is despicable, btw.)

http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2008/05/lori-drew-indic.html

FCC and Homeland Insecurity.

This is a rather long, but interesting read on Cyberstalking and Internet Harrassment

The Feds have a 98% conviction rate which is statisticly impossible. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/evil.gif" alt="" />

The computer fraud and abuse act is very non-specific. You can pretty much make the shoe fit. The crime does not have to cross state lines for the Feds to get involved...IANAL but I play one here <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I hear you on the conviction rate. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" /> Though Japan has a higher rate and no rights for the accused/guilty.

I understand that not all crimes need to be interstate for the feds to be involved - as it should be. But many internet crimes end up in the federal venue just due to "interstate commerce". For example, internet crimes being prosecuted under the PROTECT act are a prime example your packets crossing state line.