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The criminal complaint has a lot more information[0] in what is a much deeper and involved story that this headline doesn't really do justice to. Lin had stalke

by nikcub 9y ago

The criminal complaint has a lot more information[0] in what is a much deeper and involved story that this headline doesn't really do justice to. Lin had stalked her in person for over a year with a host of incidents - the affidavit is almost 30 pages long and the story is stunning. She had a laptop in her room with no login and a file containing passwords. The accused stole all of her account details and taunted her in person using information she had written in a private journal that she hadn't shared with anybody. He was also using his work computer to access her iCloud, Google Drive, etc. and then send bomb threats, child porn, personal diary entries and sexually explicit photos to her contacts, school and family. After he was fired he wanted access to that computer, which his employer refused. They reformatted the drive but the FBI picked it up and found all of these artifacts on that machine (including the PureVPN software and account). This is a case where the FBI have started with a suspect and then worked backwards to build a criminal complaint. In those cases it is much easier to look at his financial records, find that he paid for a VPN service, subpoena the VPN provider for account records, and then link that VPN account and service with IP access as another data point for the criminal complaint. In this case it was even easier - they had the VPN provider and account details, along with a host of other evidence, on his computer. This isn't a case of starting with an IP address and then working back through a haystack to find a suspect - but rather affirming a link that was suspected, and found, to exist. He didn't compartmentalize his real identity from his psycho stalker identity, and this combined with the accused horrible real-world behavior is what lead to his arrest. [0] https://www.justice.gov/opa/press-release/file/1001841/download https://www.justice.gov/opa/press-release/file/1001841/downl...

dsr_ 9y ago
The bomb threats weren't limited to her: most of the schools in my town (one over from Newton) got bomb threats. Lots of bomb threats. Mostly at 4:15AM, but some during the school day. Sometimes for three or four days in a row. Expect more charges to be added.
ransom1538 9y ago
Thanks for that link, it's interesting to see how the fbi operates. What always confuses me is how liberally the feds use "Wire Fraud" 1343. In the report I don't see evidence of Lin trying to obtain money fraudulently through the internet cabling. But over and over I see "Wire Fraud" 1343 tacked on if there is any computer abuse type charges. It must be super easy to get a conviction of Wire Fraud (/ impossible to defend yourself).
- tinus_hn 9y ago
  Wire fraud requires either a ‘scheme to defraud’ or ‘obtaining money or property by fraudulent pretenses’. So the money part is not required. If proven it’s just an easy way to get higher sentences and thus more leverage in making plea deals.
  - ransom1538 9y ago
    "Whoever, having devised or intending to devise any scheme or artifice to defraud, or for obtaining money or property by means of false or fraudulent pretenses, representations, or promises, transmits or causes to be transmitted by means of wire, radio, or television communication in interstate or foreign commerce, any" It must be for property or money. I am not following. When did Lin try to gain money or property using fraud? It just doesn't make sense to 'throw on wire fraud' - the charge in the US is more serious than rape or kidnapping. https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/1343 https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/1343
    - JumpCrisscross 9y ago
      It’s a criminal complaint. Also, “having devised or intending to devise any scheme or artifice to defraud, or for obtaining money or property by means of false or fraudulent pretenses” parses as a “any scheme or artifice to defraud” or the obtaining of money or property. The three part test is intent, a “wire” (i.e. Internet) communication and that “or” test. He intentionally logged into her Internet accounts, and sent emails from them, while fraudulently claiming to be her. Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer. This is not legal advice nor advice of any kind. Do not commit wire fraud.
    - manicdee 9y ago
      Stealing bank account details and using them perhaps?
- bradleyjg 9y ago
  The affidavit doesn't lay out the case for wire fraud or several of the other mentioned offenses. They are only mentioned as a passing reference to all the crimes for which the FBI is investigating Lin. Only the cyber-stalking count is discussed in full.

by nikcub 9y ago

dsr_ 9y ago

The bomb threats weren't limited to her: most of the schools in my town (one over from Newton) got bomb threats. Lots of bomb threats. Mostly at 4:15AM, but some during the school day. Sometimes for three or four days in a row. Expect more charges to be added.

ransom1538 9y ago

Thanks for that link, it's interesting to see how the fbi operates. What always confuses me is how liberally the feds use "Wire Fraud" 1343. In the report I don't see evidence of Lin trying to obtain money fraudulently through the internet cabling. But over and over I see "Wire Fraud" 1343 tacked on if there is any computer abuse type charges. It must be super easy to get a conviction of Wire Fraud (/ impossible to defend yourself).

tinus_hn 9y ago
Wire fraud requires either a ‘scheme to defraud’ or ‘obtaining money or property by fraudulent pretenses’. So the money part is not required. If proven it’s just an easy way to get higher sentences and thus more leverage in making plea deals.
- ransom1538 9y ago
  "Whoever, having devised or intending to devise any scheme or artifice to defraud, or for obtaining money or property by means of false or fraudulent pretenses, representations, or promises, transmits or causes to be transmitted by means of wire, radio, or television communication in interstate or foreign commerce, any" It must be for property or money. I am not following. When did Lin try to gain money or property using fraud? It just doesn't make sense to 'throw on wire fraud' - the charge in the US is more serious than rape or kidnapping. https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/1343 https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/1343
  - JumpCrisscross 9y ago
    It’s a criminal complaint. Also, “having devised or intending to devise any scheme or artifice to defraud, or for obtaining money or property by means of false or fraudulent pretenses” parses as a “any scheme or artifice to defraud” or the obtaining of money or property. The three part test is intent, a “wire” (i.e. Internet) communication and that “or” test. He intentionally logged into her Internet accounts, and sent emails from them, while fraudulently claiming to be her. Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer. This is not legal advice nor advice of any kind. Do not commit wire fraud.
  - manicdee 9y ago
    Stealing bank account details and using them perhaps?
bradleyjg 9y ago
The affidavit doesn't lay out the case for wire fraud or several of the other mentioned offenses. They are only mentioned as a passing reference to all the crimes for which the FBI is investigating Lin. Only the cyber-stalking count is discussed in full.