[RedHelp]

A friend of mine committed some crimes 2 years ago and is interested in finding out what charges could be brought up against them if caught and what statute of limitations apply. I wasn't sure if this belonged in computer crime or financial crimes and fraud so I'll post it here.

Two years ago my friend illegally purchased several peoples credit card information (names, addresses, credit card numbers) online. My friend then used the credit cards to make several purchases online and then after receiving the merchandise in the mail, turned around and sold the merchandise online.

My friend also used the credit cards to purchase gift cards online which they then used in store to pay for goods.

Making things even more complicated, my friend was a minor at the time all this took place, living in Florida and has never been charged with a crime. After doing this for several months, my friend got nervous and quit.

Now my friend is concerned about if this could ever come back to haunt them. What is the statute of limitations for credit card fraud in Florida? And is this considered credit card fraud, some type of computer wire fraud, or both?

My friend thinks there is little no chance of getting caught and being charged for purchasing the actual credit cards online, my friend is more concerned about the authorities tracking the use of the credit cards to them.

Any information other than "Consult a lawyer" would be very appreciated. My friend is not willing to contact a lawyer about a crime that they probably got away with.

[FLDukie]

The more you talk about it, the worser it becomes. How long ago did he stop doing this? If it's been around 2 years and he still hasn't heard a knock on the door, he should be fine. Just make sure that since he's an adult now, he doesn't get caught up in this again. Computer and identity fraud is no laughing matter nowadays. If I were him, to account for what he's done, is go talk to a priest.

[RedHelp]

The more you talk about it, the worser it becomes. How long ago did he stop doing this? If it's been around 2 years and he still hasn't heard a knock on the door, he should be fine. Just make sure that since he's an adult now, he doesn't get caught up in this again. Computer and identity fraud is no laughing matter nowadays. If I were him, to account for what he's done, is go talk to a priest.

Too bad they're a jew and they condone these kinds of things...

But seriously, if you don't know the law don't waste my time replying. You should know that priests in the U.S. are legally required to report all illegal activity confided to them to the police.

[4eyedbuzzard]

Too bad they're a jew and they condone these kinds of things...

That's not funny enough to get away with being in poor taste.

But seriously, if you don't know the law don't waste my time replying. You should know that priests in the U.S. are legally required to report all illegal activity confided to them to the police.

Priests are legally required to report illegal activity told to them in confidence? Since when?

State laws: http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/...817/PART02.HTM

Federal laws: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/18...0_I_20_63.html

[RedHelp]

I don't know if theres any laws stating theyre physically required but I read in the news a while back that a man confided that he had shot another man (not fatally) to a priest and that later when the man was caught, the police found out he had told the priest who had not notified the police and the priest was in legal trouble and forced to step down from his position in the church.

This isn't the article I was talking about but it's about a priest being charged with not notifying police about another child molesting priest that fled:http://roguepundit.typepad.com/rogue...ng_up_rem.html

But religion aside, any actual information pertaining to my original post?