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[Posted on Thur, Feb 16 2006]
Today's FBI: Computer forensics, digital fingerprintsSource: KHOU-TV
khou.com
09:15 PM CST on Thursday, February 16, 2006
By Jeff McShan / 11 News
When you think of crime scenes and gathering evidence, perhaps DNA and fingerprints come to mind.
But there's another science which is helping law enforcement agencies like HPD find and convict criminals. It is the growing field of forensic computing.
Some of the computers that are evidence in the FBI's forensic computer lab.
In a Houston office building, FBI-trained computer forensic examiners work at what's called the Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory.
"This is actually my personal lab space When I get it out of the evidence room I bring it in here and begin the process," said forensic examiner Robert Dawson.
Unlike in a traditional crime lab, Robert Dawson dusts for digital fingerprints.
Helping detectives search for clues on hard drives, portable drives CDs and DVDs, for example.
What Dawson found on one computer recently helped convict William Leavins, who is now serving time for attempted kidnapping of a child.
"The little girl could testify of what his outside actions were, but what we have to prove is his intent," said Harris County Asst. DA Connie Spence.
Spence obtained a search warrant for Leavins' computer.
"That was very important to prove intent. When he stopped that car, got out of the car and went over to the little girl," said Spence.
On his hard drive, the lab found disturbing images.
Some of it Leavins had deleted but here, that can be uncovered too.
"Also he went to a site on how to commit rape," said Harris County detective Run Hunter
He says Leavins was planning to rape his victim, but thankfully she escaped.
"This digital lab has helped investigate activity involving terrorism, child pornography, Internet crimes and fraud.
Many of the computers taken from Enron ended up here.
It's a tedious process.
"Sometimes it can take months really yes depending on what kind of data we are looking for and how much we have," said forensic examiner Lawrence Potier.
In 2005 the lab assisted on 276 cases.
"It's amazing," said Sgt. Gary Spurger, Harris County Pct. 4.
He can often be found here.
"It provides us the opportunity that we have never been able to do before in our own department," said Sgt. Spurger.
This is where real life, state-of-the-art CSI takes place.
[Original Article on the KHOU web site ]