Tragedy as woman with debilitating sexual arousal disorder that made her orgasm up to 50 times in a row commits suicide

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Dec 312012

Tragedy as woman with debilitating sexual arousal disorder that made her orgasm up to 50 times in a row commits suicide

Gretchen Molannen, 39, suffered from persistent genital arousal for 16 years
She committed suicide a day after paper published her story
Condition meant it was impossible to work
Turned down for disability twice
Appealed on Craigslist for a free MRI scan so she could prove condition to judge
Attempted suicide three times in the last year

Daily Mail (UK)
By Rachel Quigley and Beth Stebner
December 4, 2012

A woman who suffered from a debilitating condition where she had constant, uncontrollable orgasms has committed suicide after years of battling her affliction.

Gretchen Molannen, 39, was found dead in her home in Spring Hill, Florida, over the weekend from an apparent suicide.

She had suffered from persistent genital arousal disorder (PGAD) for more than a decade-and-a-half.

The condition means the afflicted are physically but not psychologically aroused and can often only find relief after masturbating for hours upon end.

Desperate: Gretchen Molannen, 39, was found dead in her home in Spring Hill, Florida, over the weekend from an apparent suicide. She had suffered from persistent genital arousal disorder (PGAD) for more than a decade-and-a-half

Trauma: The condition means the afflicted are physically but not psychologically aroused and can often only find relief after masturbating for hours upon end

It is unclear how or when the 39-year-old died. The Hernando County Sheriff’s office responded to a suicide call on Saturday night and two of her friends confirmed it.

The Tampa Bay Times had done a profile on Ms Molannen only a week before, speaking to her about her debilitating disorder.

‘I had such a different life before this thing, this beast, took over,’ she said in November. Ms Molannen explained that she began feeling the sensation when she was 23, describing that it was like a switch she couldn’t turn off.

‘I used to love life. But this has destroyed it. This isn’t living. What’s the point? I think about suicide all the time,’ she said.

One of the only forms of relief came from masturbating for hours on end, something that Ms Molannen, a Lutheran, found as a point of shame.

Though she had aspirations of working as a translator as she is fluent in French, German and Spanish, her condition meant that she had to take odd jobs, because she had to deal with the physical demands of PGAD.

But, having to relieve herself almost constantly, she stopped working in 1999 and started spending most of the time in her bedroom with her vibrator.

Agony: Gretchen Molannen

‘I was terrified,’ she said. ‘I couldn’t get unaroused. I didn’t know what to do.’

Her distress over the condition made her attempt suicide three times in the past year.

‘I know that God wants more out of my life than having me testing out suicide methods, constantly crying and abusing myself,’ she said.

Agony: Gretchen Molannen, 39, pictured on her Facebook page wearing a mask, committed suicide on December 1 because of a debilitating condition which caused her to have repeated, uncontrollable orgasms

She tragically revealed to the paper she had been molested for years by a neighbor, who said she was being punished for being bad. She wondered if that had anything to do with it?

___________________

THE AGONY AND THE ECSTASY: WHAT IS PGAD?

Persistent genital arousal disorder is a fairly recent phenomenon, first described in medical literature in 2001.

Sufferers describe symptoms as only physical arousal. Women who have the disorder say that they experience symptoms that are intense and incredibly uncomfortable.

Some women may temporarily lesson the symptoms by masturbating and reaching orgasm, though it is an ephemeral relief system. Treatment ranges from psychotherapy to various medications.

Doctors don’t agree what causes it but do agree on how debilitating it is.

Women have described getting it after falling over, childbirth, menopause and coming off anti-depressants.

_________________________

She had a boyfriend, who emailed the Times after her original story was published, saying the article ‘won’t help her now’ because she had killed herself.

They had sex around four times a year, the Times said, because it caused Ms Molannen hours of agony afterward. She agreed to it in a bid for physical intimacy.

Unable to hold down any full-time employment. Ms Molannen said she tried to file for disability twice, and was twice denied.

Because of this, the boyfriend had paid her taxes so she could keep her parents’ house.

Her worst day, she said, was when she had 50 uncontrolled orgasms in a row.

‘It made me think I was going to die,’ she told the newspaper. ‘That was the worst day.’

Describing the first time she felt it, Ms Molannen said she thought it was just a hormonal change women went through that they didn’t talk about, so she suffered in silence for ten years.

‘I noticed something wasn’t right any more but thought maybe I’ll grow out of it. So I waited and waited – its been almost 16 years and I’m still waiting.’

Describing the orgasms she experiences, she said: ‘All the feelings that people have when they are aroused, they’re there. The genital congestion, throbbing pulsating, heart pounding, it’s all there but the difference is tremendous anxiety – anxiety which is devastating and traumatizing.

‘I try to tell myself it’s not real and just ignore it. Sometimes I can resist it and sometimes I just can’t.’

Breaking down in tears she told the Times: ‘I had no idea other people were going through this

‘I wish I could have told my mom, and even my dad about it. I wish I could have told my parents’ friends I wasn’t in my room wasting my life away.’

The paper found her after she posted an ad on Craigslist seeking help at the beginning of the year. She wanted someone to give her a free MRI scan so she could prove her condition to a judge.

Tragically, after the story was published – and after she had committed suicide – a number of people reached out to the paper to offer their help.

According to the Journal of Sex and Marriage Therapy, any number of events or medications can trigger the disorder, including going off antidepressants, starting menopause, and even a bad fall.

It is unclear how many women suffer from the disease, but experts estimate it to be in the thousands.

IN HER OWN WORDS: THE RELENTLESS, HORRIBLE AROUSAL THAT WON’T SUBSIDE

‘The arousal won’t let up. It will not subside. It will not relent. One O-R-G will lead you directly into the horrible intense urge, like you’re already next to having another one. So you just have to keep going.

‘I mean, on my worst night I had 50 in a row. I can’t even stop to get a drink of water. And you’re in so much pain. You’re soaking in sweat. Every inch of your body hurts. Your heart is pounding so hard.

‘You have to ignore it, Gretchen. YOU DON’T HAVE A CHOICE. STOP NOW. Just let your body calm down. Many times, I’ve tried that.

‘I’d be as far as in the bathroom, going in for my reward shower. I’m done. Now it’s time to clean up and relax. And I’d look at myself in the mirror and there it is again. And I’d throw myself on the floor and cry.

‘Men don’t understand it. They don’t care. They think it’s hot…When I describe it to men, I tell them, “Imagine having an erection that does not go down, that feeling of just before it comes out, all day, all night, no matter how many times, no matter how much you’ve destroyed the skin on your penis”.

‘It won’t let you calm down. You can’t go to sleep. You think you are going to have a heart attack. You think you are going to die.’

Source: Tampa Bay Times

Article Link: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2243118/Gretchen-Molannen-debilitating-sexual-arousal-disorder-commits-suicide.html#ixzz2Gc5Us2mI

HOMICIDE REPORT (Los Angeles): Cause of death determinations for Jan to Dec 2011

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Jan 152012

LOS ANGELES TIMES

HOMICIDE REPORT

Cause of death determinations: January to June 2011

Los Angeles County coroner’s officials routinely provide The Times with a weekly list of deaths initially considered to be homicides.

Reporters follow up with the department to obtain additional information about each case and, in some cases, learn that the victim’s cause of death has been deferred. This means the final determination on the mode of death is postponed pending additional laboratory tests. The death can later be ruled a homicide, suicide, natural or accident. The results usually are available within six to eight weeks.

The Homicide Report has followed up with the coroner’s office on about 30 deferred cases. Here are the findings in several cases from 2010 and the first six months of 2011::

Marilyn Villatoro, a 1-year-old Latina, died Feb. 10, 2010, two days after she was found unresponsive in Long Beach. The initial coroner’s report listed the child as going into cardiac arrest. However, the coroner’s office was unable to conclude the exact cause of death and it was ruled undetermined.

Russell Rathert, a 50-year-old man, was found dead Aug. 31, 2010, in Valley Village. Firefighters found a car engulfed in flames and discovered Rathert’s remains in a four-door-sedan. Coroner’s officials have since ruled the death as a homicide citing “affects of drugs and other unknown factors.”

Alois Nihswohl, an 84-year-old white man, was found dead at his home Sept. 1,2010, in El Sereno. Firefighters arrived at the ransacked residence to find Nihswohl dead. According to preliminary coroner’s records, he died from possible blunt-force trauma. Coroner’s officials have since ruled his death an accident stating he died from systemic heart disease.

Sue West, a 93-year-old white woman, was found dead at her home Dec. 18, 2010, in North Hollywood. Preliminary coroner’s records show West may have died from elder abuse. Although the coroner’s office conducted laboratory tests to establish the mode, her death was ultimately ruled as undetermined.

Joe Ward, a 67-year-old black man, died Dec. 22, 2010, after he was found in his home in Lynwood. Ward had signs of decubitus, or bed sores, all over his body, according to preliminary coroner’s records. Officials said he was taken to St. Francis Medical Center, where he died. Coroner’s officials said the case is still deferred.

Kenneth Cowan, a 42-year-old white man, died Wednesday, Jan. 5, four days after he was found unresponsive in his home in Palmdale. The night before he was discovered, Cowan celebrated New Year’s Eve with some friends. Authorities said during that time Cowan may have been involved in a fistfight and then went home. Coroner’s officials have determined he died from a blunt head injury and his death has been ruled a homicide.

Bich Truong, a 56-year-old Asian woman, died Sunday, Jan. 9, in Harbor City. Truong and her daughter Lisa Nguyen, a 27-year-old Asian woman, were found dead in the front of a residence. It was later revealed that the victims’ husband and father killed the two women before committing suicide. Coroner’s officials said Truong died from asphyxia by neck compression and her death was ruled a homicide.

Averon Fletcher, a 45-year-old black man, died Sunday, Feb. 13, after he was believed to have sustained trauma in Hawthorne. Preliminary coroner’s records revealed Fletcher had trauma to his right rib area and noted that he had been kicked several times. Despite the injuries, his death was ruled as undetermined.

Isiah Meza, a 3-year-old Latino, died Thursday, Feb. 17, in Elysian Valley. According to preliminary coroner’s records, Isiah was jumping on a bed when he was later found on the floor. The case was initially listed as deferred, however investigators have since placed a security hold on the case and the coroner’s office is unable to provide any further information about the child’s death.

Janet Hays, a 54-year-old white woman, died Sunday, Feb. 20, in Covina. Authorities received a call regarding a possible suicide at a convalescent home and found Hays dead. The coroner’s office said Hays did not commit suicide, but was killed. She died from asphyxia by neck compression and her death was ruled a homicide.

A man identified only as John Doe #3 was found dead Wednesday, March 9, in unincorporated West Covina. The body was discovered behind a field. The coroner’s office was unable to determine the age or race of the decedent since there were only skeletal remains. A cause of death was listed as undetermined.

Roy Thomas, a 54-year-old black man, died Thursday, March 24, in Historic South-Central. Thomas was found dead in a parked car with possible head trauma. The cause of death was initially deferred, but the coroner’s office has since determined Thomas died from liver cirrhosis and left ventricular hypertrophy, or an enlargement of the heart muscle. His death has been ruled as natural.

Harvey Dobbins, a 40-year-old black man, died Saturday, April 2, in Watts. Dobbins was discovered on the street with possible stab wounds. Authorities were called and he was pronounced dead at the scene. According to coroner’s records, Dobbins died from several factors including atherosclerotic heart disease, cocaine use and multiple sharp force injuries. His death was ruled a homicide.

Sergio Salazar, a 53-year-old Latino, died Monday, April 4, in Sylmar. Salazar, who critically wounded a Los Angeles police officer, was found dead inside his home. He had been barricaded inside for nearly a day as authorities fired tear gas and used a hydraulic forklift to rip open the house. His body was found on the second floor with a rifle at his side. At first it was unclear if Salazar sustained a self-inflicted gunshot wound or if he had been shot by an officer. The coroner’s office has since determined that the gunshot wound to the head was caused by authorities and the death was ruled a homicide.

Frederick Buzzell Jr., a 77-year-old white man, died Saturday, April 9, two days after he was taken from a hospital in Lake View Terrace. Coroner’s records show Buzzell’s body had “decubitus ulcers,” commonly known as bed sores, and his death may have been the result of elder abuse. The death has since been ruled as natural. The coroner’s office cited septic shock, as well multiple bacteria organisms as the cause of death.

Michelle Lozano, a 17-year-old Latina, was found dead Tuesday, April 26, near the southbound 5 Freeway at State Street and Cesar Chavez Avenue in Boyle Heights. A homeless person called police after finding Lozano’s nude body in a broken-open container in the brush. Investigators determined from evidence that Lozano had been wrapped in plastic bags and stuffed in the plastic container. Afterward, the container was dumped over a concrete barrier along the freeway. When it hit the ground, the container broke open and spilled Lozano’s body into the shrubs. The coroner’s office said Lozano died from asphyxia by strangulation and her death was ruled a homicide.

Xi Huang, an 82-year-old Asian woman, died Friday, April 29, in Monterey Park. Huang was found dead on the floor in the bathroom of her home. According to coroner’s records, Huang died from asphyxia by strangulation and her death was ruled a homicide.

Ernesto Castillo, a 38-year-old Latino, died Monday, May 9, 15 years after he was shot in Historic South-Central. It was initially believed Castillo died as a result of the gunshot injury. However it was later determined that his death was an accident. Castillo died from hyper-trophic heart disease, in conjunction with a drug overdose.

Dori Cassaday, a 49-year-old white woman, died Thursday, June 30, in Stevenson Ranch. Cassaday was found dead in her apartment by an exterminator. The coroner’s office said her death was a suicide. She killed herself through multiple drug intoxication.

Cause of death determinations: July to December 2011

Los Angeles County coroner’s officials routinely provide The Times with a weekly list of deaths initially considered to be homicides.

The Homicide Report has followed up with the coroner’s office on about 30 deferred cases from 2010 and 2011. Here are their findings in cases in the final six months of 2011:

A man identified only as John Doe #86 was found dead Tuesday, July 5, in Lancaster. The skeletal remains were discovered behind a closed business after the Fourth of July weekend. Due to the state of the remains, investigators said they were unable to identify the victim or cause of death. The case was closed as undetermined.

Ralph Jimenez, a 65-year-old man, was found dead Friday, July 29, in Cypress Park. Firefighters responded to a report of a fire in an alley and discovered Jimenez’s burning body. According to coroner’s officials, they are still investigating the death and the case remains deferred.

Gorky Lopatinsky Sr., an 81-year-old white man, died Tuesday, Aug. 2, a day after he was assaulted in Boyle Heights. Lopatinsky was walking through Hollenbeck Park when he was attacked. Preliminary records show he died from blunt head trauma, but coroner’s officials have since determined that his death was the result of his falling and hitting his head. The death was deemed an accident.

John Bowles, a 50-year-old white man, died Tuesday, Aug. 9, three days after sustaining trauma in Palmdale. Bowles was taken to the hospital after falling from a car. It was initially believed that he may have been pushed out of the vehicle and sustained the fatal head trauma. The coroner’s office said it was unable to determine how Bowles fell out of the car and his death was listed as undetermined.

Keith Davis, a 45-year-old white man, died Wednesday, Aug. 10, in Northridge. Davis got into an altercation with two people when he suddenly collapsed and later died. According to coroner’s officials, Davis died from “excited delirium” that led to him going into cardiac arrest. Additionally, he was under methamphetamine intoxication. His death was ruled an accident.

Edward Forte, a 51-year-old white man, died Friday, Aug. 19, in Long Beach. Forte was found unresponsive at a board-and-care home and pronounced dead. According to the coroner’s office, Forte’s died of natural causes. He died from complications of a heart attack.

Yadira Ruiz, a 23-year-old Latina, was found dead Sunday, Aug. 28, in Mid-City. Ruiz was found unresponsive in her boyfriend’s parents’ house. There were no obvious signs of trauma to her body and the death may have been a suicide. The coroner’s office said that it was still investigating the case and the cause of death is pending.

Karla Brada, a 31-year-old white woman, died Thursday, Sept. 1, in Santa Clarita. Brada’s boyfriend said he found her unresponsive. She was pronounced dead at the scene by authorities. Coroner’s officials later determined that Brada died from asphyxia and her death was deemed a homicide.

Amparo Villanueva, a 97-year-old woman, died Monday, Nov. 7, in Long Beach. Villanueva was found living in an unsanitary and filthy environment with her elderly husband. The two were under the care of their adult sons. It was reported that Villanueva had numerous bedsores on her body, although it’s unclear why she died. The coroner’s office said the cause of death is pending.

Direct Link (Jan – Jun 2011): http://projects.latimes.com/homicide/post/cause-death-determinations-january-june-2011/

Direct Link (Jul – Dec 2011): http://projects.latimes.com/homicide/post/cause-death-determinations-july-december-2011/

Parents Beware: Dangerous Teen Trends

Nov 232011

Parents Beware: Dangerous Teen Trends
by The Miami-Dade Police Department
October 25, 2011

In today’s society, parents must be extra vigilant of the possible dangers their teens may face. The internet affords teens the opportunity to secretly explore various ways of experimenting with trends that, although may seem like the “in” or “cool” thing to do, carry serious risks and dangers. Here are a few of the most recent dangerous teen trends.
“Bath salts”

The new drug, which was sold legally as “bath salts” in head shops and liquor stores, grabbed national headlines when it was outlawed by Louisiana in January 2011. Florida was the second state in the U.S. to place a ban on the substance and the DEA has recently placed an emergency temporary ban making it illegal to sell or posses in the United States. The bath salts have been found to contain mephedrone and MDPV, two drugs that cause severe hallucinations and psychosis in users who smoke, snort, or inject the substances. A single use causes intense cravings that results in three to four day binges and can end in suicide.
“Purple drank”

By adding cough syrup with codeine to a soft drink and candy (usually Sprite and Jolly Ranchers), teens create what they consider a quick remedy for tension, anxiety, and aggression. The drink can be made with the over-the-counter medications which contain dextromethorphan. Normally used as a cough suppressant, in large doses this substance causes hallucinations. A single use can be lethal to an inexperienced user. Other possible side effects include drowsiness, inability to concentrate, slowed physical activity, constipation, nausea, vomiting, and slowed breathing.

“K-2” or Synthetic “Fake” Marijuana
It’s called “Spice,” “K2,” “Bliss,” “Black Mamba,” “Bombay Blue,” “Genie,” “Zohai,” “Blaze,” and “Red X Dawn,” and is really synthetic marijuana. The product consists of plant material coated with research chemicals that mimic THC, the active ingredient in marijuana. The product is labeled as incense (probably to mask the real intended purpose), and kids were able to purchase it easily online or at the corner store. The medical profession warns that K-2 has the potential for long-term effects including hallucinations, increased heart rate and even respiratory failure. The DEA took emergency action to outlaw herbal and chemical blends sold as synthetic marijuana in March 2011 to avoid imminent threat to public safety.

“Vodka eyeballing”

Afraid to be caught with the smell of alcohol on their breath, many teens have taken up the vodka eyeballing trend. Instead of throwing back a shot, teens hold the bottle to their eye and pour the liquid directly into the eye, which is laden with blood vessels. Here, the alcohol is quickly absorbed through the mucous membrane and enters the bloodstream immediately through the veins at the back of the eye. Eyeballing may yield a quick buzz without the bad breath but there can be extreme consequences: Because most vodkas are between 40 and 50 percent alcohol, it can scar and burn the cornea, and even cause blindness.

“Vodka (or Drunken) Gummy Bears”

Using online tutorials, some teens are soaking the candy in vodka for several days and eating it to get a buzz. The instructional videos show teens how infuse the candy with alcohol – vodka, in particular, because it’s odorless. The end result is “drunken gummies” that can be put into plastic baggies and taken to parties, the movies, football games, and just about anywhere. Police departments warn parents to be on the alert for the booze-soaked bears, especially as Halloween nears. The danger lies in the fact that teens can’t tell how much alcohol they’re actually putting into their system with the drunken bears.

“Smoking Smarties”

“Smoking Smarties” is another dangerous trend that is making the rounds on YouTube. Like with drunken gummies, instructional videos show kids how to partake in “smoking” Smarties, a trend that hit the scene in 2009, but is making a revival in 2011. Smoking Smarties doesn’t involve alcohol and is popular with the middle school set. To “smoke” Smarties, the candy is crushed up into a fine powder. One end is opened and kids puff the sugar into their mouths and exhale it like cigarette smoke. With this fad come health risks, especially if the sugary powder is inhaled. Health experts told Fox News that smoking Smarties could lead to infections, chronic coughing, chocking, and even maggots feeding off the sugary dust.

Parents, be aware of changes in your teen’s behavior and warn them about the dangers of drug abuse, both legal and illegal substances. Social pressures are constantly changing and new trends emerging. Both parties must be open-minded and willing to listen. It’s not about having that one talk about substance abuse, but establishing an open line of communication.

Direct Link: https://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=10150330011681020

Fib on Facebook? U.S. Law Calls It Criminal, Critics Warn!

Articles of Interest, Crimes & Criminal Activity (Organized Crime, Narcotics, Predators, Cyber Crime, Cyber Stalking, UnSolved), Investigative, Law Enforcement, Social Media, Technology & Digital Security No Responses »

Nov 172011

Fib on Facebook? U.S. Law Calls It Criminal, Critics Warn
By Judson Berger
November 17, 2011

Ever fib about your age on a dating site?

What about on Facebook?

These infractions could be a federal crime under an obscure 1986 anti-hacking law that was passed well before the advent of social networking sites. Advocacy groups on both sides of the aisle are now pressing lawmakers to re-write the law, to prevent an administration push to toughen penalties from treating online mischief-makers the same as criminal hackers.

The debate centers on a law known as the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, which has been broadened several times since 1986. Critics of the law point most frequently to a section that imposes penalties on anyone who knowingly “exceeds authorized access” on a computer to obtain information.

“Authorized access,” they warn, could refer to anything from a website’s “Terms of Use” agreement to an employer’s restrictions on computer use. They cite cases where federal prosecutors have charged individuals for breaching these agreements — and question whether that standard could hold casual slip-ups on the Internet to the same standard as malicious cyber-criminal activity.

“Now it is possible for someone to be prosecuted for violating the user agreement in a social networking site,” Rep. Bobby Scott, D-Va., said at a hearing Tuesday on Capitol Hill.

The hearing by a House Judiciary subcommittee marked the latest public debate in D.C. over the law.

The Obama administration is currently pushing to increase penalties under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. The Department of Justice downplays concerns about the broadness of the language, and stresses that the government is trying to deter serious cyber-threats and cyber-criminals — such as the mass theft of credit card data.

But Berin Szoka, president of TechFreedom, said it’s critical that Congress make sure the law targets real criminals.

“Hacking is a real problem,” he told FoxNews.com. “But … any effort to expand (the law) has to also insure that the law is not used to criminalize violations of terms of service.”

George Washington University Law Professor Orin Kerr testified on Capitol Hill Tuesday that as written, the law criminalizes routine computer use in a way that could implicate just about anybody.

For instance, Kerr noted that while he lives in Arlington, Va., his Facebook profile states that he lives in Washington, D.C.

“According to the Justice Department, I violate federal criminal law every time I log in,” Kerr said. Kerr suggested tweaking the language of the law to clarify that it does not apply to people who violate “terms of service” agreements.

The Justice Department, however, argues that the language in the law on “authorized access” should stand to give the department the tools it needs to prosecute bona fide criminals.

“Restricting the statute in this way would make it difficult or impossible to deter and address serious insider threats through prosecution,” Justice official Richard Downing said in written testimony submitted to the House Judiciary Committee.

Downing explained that most employers have “clear and reasonable restrictions” on how sensitive computer data can be accessed by employees. The department, he said, prosecutes people who violate those rules to obtain sensitive information. Changing the law would prevent prosecution of “serious insider cases” — for instance, a health insurance administrator accessed hundreds of thousands of worker names and Social Security numbers in 2006, and was prosecuted under this law.

Kerr praised the Senate Judiciary Committee for recently amending the law in an attempt to narrow its scope to ensure that routine computer usage is not criminalized. The Senate committee in September approved an amendment that would exempt people whose only infraction is a violation of a user agreement.

A House Judiciary Committee aide told FoxNews.com that the Justice Department is “concerned” about the action taken by the Senate. The House, though, has not yet taken up any proposal on the issue.

Asked for comment, a Justice Department spokesman referred back to Downing’s testimony.

Kerr and several other groups appealed to Congress back in August to change the law. In a joint letter, they expressed concern about an “overbroad application of the law.” A key concern is that by relying on terms of use agreements, the courts would effectively allow those contractual agreements to define what is and is not a criminal act.

“If a person assumes a fictitious identify at a party, there is no federal crime,” the letter said. “Yet if they assume that same identity on a social network that prohibits pseudonyms, there may again be a CFAA violation.”

The organizations on the letter included the American Civil Liberties Union, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, the Center for Democracy and Technology and conservative groups like FreedomWorks and Americans for Tax Reform.

While defending the law, Downing pressed for increasing maximum penalties on some violations.

He claimed cyber-crimes are still treated more delicately in U.S. law than related physical crimes. Downing, the deputy chief at the computer crime division, noted the maximum penalty for computer fraud is five years, but 20 years for mail and wire fraud.

“Criminals from across the country and around the world are taking advantage of the relative anonymity provided by the Internet to compromise our critical infrastructure, obtain trade secrets, intrude into bank accounts, and steal the personal and financial information of ordinary Americans,” Downing said. “Federal law needs to more effectively deter this spreading criminality.”

Though the Justice Department has used the law to go after those who violate terms of service agreements, its track record is spotty. In perhaps the most famous case in recent history, a federal judge threw out the 2008 convictions against Missouri mother Lori Drew. Drew was prosecuted under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act for creating a fake MySpace page, in violation of MySpace’s terms, and using it to harass a teenage girl who later killed herself.

Direct Link: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/11/17/fib-on-facebook-us-law-calls-it-criminal-critics-warn/#ixzz1e1MFT83I