FBI Opens High-Tech Crime Lab

Yahoo News ^

[Hal1950]

The FBI has a new tool to crack down on criminals with a new high-tech crime lab.

KMBC's Jim Flink reported that when Branson Perry, 20, disappeared two years ago, police and FBI agents were stumped until they uncovered an alleged Internet chat-room confession by Jack Wayne Rogers. The FBI seized Rogers' computer as evidence in the case.

"A good portion of crime, there's going to be a computer involved. Either the evidence is on the computer or some evidence on a crime," FBI Special Agent Jeff Lanza said.

The FBI officially opened this computer-related crime lab in Kansas City Wednesday. It is one of three nationwide that has been set up to fight all kinds of criminal cases. Two other labs have been set up in Dallas and San Diego. Two more will be set up in San Francisco and Chicago.

Flink reported that Kansas City was chosen for the lab partly because of the high volume of computer-related crimes in the area and partly because local law enforcement agencies were so willing to cooperate with the FBI in staffing the operation.

Fourteen highly trained computer examiners -- five from the FBI and nine others from local police agencies will staff the lab and investigate federal and local crimes.

[MineralMan]

"Fourteen highly trained computer examiners -- five from the FBI and nine others from local police agencies will staff the lab and investigate federal and local crimes."

I'll bet they're highly-trained. Some of them have probably actually _used_ a computer a couple of times. Why do I think these "experts" aren't really that at all?

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[longtermmemmory]

Give them about three months and they will somehow botch it. Usually chain of custody, integrity or method problems.

[Gabrielle Reilly]

read later.

[taxcontrol]

LOL

If they just hired these folks from college they have NO experience and NO training in security. Degree programs are focused on correcting programing errors - not on gathering evidence of a hack.

Further, starting salaries are sub $40K. I don't know anyone in the industry who I would call a security expert making less than $80 K (military personnel excepted).

Congress needs to authorize the FBI to hire civilian firms, deputize them and have them perform these functions.

[MineralMan]

"Further, starting salaries are sub $40K. I don't know anyone in the industry who I would call a security expert making less than $80 K (military personnel excepted).
"

Well, if you're right, that sort of salary will attract some pretty weak "experts."

But, then again, half the people in any teen chat room are cops, it seems, trolling for child porn abusers.

[SoFarRight]

Why do I think these "experts" aren't really that at all?

Because you're smarter than the average bear!

SFR