Digital forensic analyst Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Digital forensic analyst - Case Study Example The paper also outlines how the cases have had an impact on the trajectory of digital computer forensic and the work of digital forensic analyst. Case 1: U.S. v. Diaz The case between U.S and Diaz involved marijuana in New Mexico. In this case, Jesus Manuel Diaz had more than 1000 kilograms of Marijuana he wanted to distribute in the United States using his trucking company, JD Easyline (Admin, 2011). In December, 11th 2009, the United States district court heard that Daiz drove his truck eastbound from Mexico to the Arizona border where he intended to distribute Marijuana hidden in his truck. Being the Diaz wanted to cross the border with the marijuana onboard his truck, he had falsified the paper work detailing the real weight of the truck and the merchandise onboard. After arriving at a border booth, he went ahead to get the paperwork necessary for him to cross the border with the truck, but the credential booth was closed on that day. As a result, Diaz went out of his truck and met Officer Smid, whom he presented all the paper work including his driving license in pursuit of a clearance letter. However, Smid was worried about the weight Diaz had quoted in his paper work. The gross weight of Diaz’s truck was way below what Smid expected. Smid argued that an empty truck with fuel weighed close to 33,000 pounds. However, Diaz had pointed that the merchandise onboard was 9,762 pound, which concerned Smid because some weight was uncounted in the truck. Smid inspected Diaz paperwork and questioned the discrepancy in weight, which Diaz attempted to explain. He argued that some shippers often put more weight on the truck than necessary. An inspection of the truck revealed that Diaz did not have a CB radio and he had four cellphones. Furthermore, Smid discovered the Diaz was uneasy and was scratching his head, a behavior he had not displayed at the start of the conversation. The seal of the truck was a commercial seal and Smid noted that there was some air freshener in the truck, though this was missing in the bill of lading. A through search of the truck using a sniffer dog revealed more the 3,300 pounds of marijuana (Admin, 2011). In addition, a laptop computer and printer, Diaz used to falsify and print the bill of lading was found. A computer forensic testified in the court that Diaz had deleted a program he used to create a false bill of lading to justify the additional weight of marijuana. Forensic analysis revealed that the bil l of lading was not the one the dollar store issued to Diaz. This evidence in this case had a significant impact on the case because it Diaz was found guilty and convicted. While Diaz had succeeded to alter the bill of lading, the work of computer forensic allowed the prosecutor to prove that Diaz had deleted software he used to make and print a false bill of lading. The case underscores the role of digital forensic analysts in discovering deleted files and linking the same to cases pending before courts of law. Moreover, the case proved that digital forensic analyst could determine the authenticity of documents by finding programs used to create them. In such cases, it would be easy for investigators to gather evidence