Investigative Support

SEARCH staff has been tasked by the Bureau of Justice Assistance with conducting a National Research Project to determine the baseline capabilities of law enforcement relating to investigations of crimes involving the use of digital evidence.

To receive, develop, and refer criminal complaints regarding the rapidly expanding arena of cyber crime. The IC3 gives the victims of cyber crime a convenient and easy-to-use reporting mechanism that alerts authorities of suspected criminal or civil violations. For law enforcement and regulatory agencies at the federal, state, local, and international level, the IC3 provides a central referral mechanism for complaints involving Internet related crimes.

IC3 receives Internet related criminal complaints and to further research, develop, and refer the criminal complaints to federal, state, local, or international law enforcement and/or regulatory agencies for any investigation they deem to be appropriate. The IC3 was intended, and continues to emphasize, serving the broader law enforcement community to include federal, as well as state, local, and international agencies, which are combating Internet crime and, in many cases, participating in Cyber Crime Task Forces. BJA supports NW3C in its efforts to maintain this service to citizens.

On July 23, 2014, SEARCH staff presented at the National Black Prosecutors Association's National Conference held in Scottsdale, Arizona. The presentation was entitled "The Use of Social Media Evidence In Prosecutions. SEARCH staff presented on the subjects of current trends in social media, legally seizing social media and authenticating digital evidence and evidence from cyberspace at trial. SEARCH staff was approached by multiple participants following the presentation indicating how informative the presentation was and beneficial to their cases.

On August 5-6, 2014, SEARCH staff created a specialized 8-hour training on social networking investigations presented in Los Angeles, CA. Staff presented techniques that showed how to search for people on Facebook, geolocate information from Twitter, find photos on Instagram, authenticate social media information for court purposes, and send legal process to various social networking websites.

During the July-December 2014 reporting period, Staff develops and delivers high-tech crime training, education, and outreach through its participation in national conferences and events. SEARCH staff participated in the 2014 NAJIS (National Association for Justice Information Systems) Conference, September 23-25, 2014, in Salt Lake City, Utah. Staff provided instruction and guidance under the topic of Social Networking Policy, in an effort to inform and educate agency leaders.

This case centers around a charge of obtaining money under false pretenses (Virginia Code 18.2-178). There are two individuals for which felony convictions are being sought. It is alleged that these two men obtained close to $2 million through fraudulent means from approximately 100 investors. Many of these investors live in Virginia while others live in Maryland, D.C., elsewhere in the U.S. and also overseas.

Exmovere Holdings, LLC a corporation licensed to do business in Virginia and Cheyenne Crow (majority shareholder and CEO) has raised close to $2 million from approximately 100 investors. Many of the investors were solicited using the dating website Match.com. The investors are from the USA and overseas. In its disclosure materials provided to investors, Exmovere is described as a bio-medical engineering company focused on government and consumer applications for healthcare, security, and mobility.

Criminal investigation to determine if the International Beauty School is engaging in financial aid fraud and the extent of the fraud. The investigation will also seek to determine if the proceeds of the financial aid fraud are being laundered through other individuals and businesses, either in the US or overseas.

This case involves investigation of alleged misappropriation of funding from at least six (6) federal, state supported research grants, by known employees of West Virginia University and/or West Virginia University Research Corporation, Inc., for at least a five (5) year period.