Coakley Names Head of New Cybercrime Lab
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David Papargiris of Attleborough, a 20-year Norwood Police veteran and deputy U.S. marshal, has been named director of the facility. He is considered one the state's leading computer forensic investigators.
Coakley also announced the appointment of Christopher Kelley, an experienced cybercrime prosecutor and investigator, as the new managing attorney in the office's cybercrime division.
The attorney general's office was awarded $142,000 in Byrne Grant funding in December from the state Executive Office of Public Safety to be used toward the development of the lab.
"The development of this lab is the next step in bringing Massachusetts to the forefront of fighting and preventing cybercrimes," said Coakley in a press release. "Dave is widely regarded in the law enforcement community as one of the state's top computer forensic investigators, and we are delighted that he has agreed to join our team. Under his leadership, we look forward to establishing a top-notch facility where we can not only process complex evidence, but also provide much-needed training to other law enforcement agencies throughout the commonwealth."
The lab is part of the Coakley's Cybercrime Initiative. The office is in the process of planning and building lab, which will have the latest capabilities in performing forensic investigations on laptop computers, cellular phones, Apple operating systems, geographic position system technology, and other emerging technologies that state law enforcement is encountering in criminal investigations or will likely be encountering in the future.
A key component of the lab, to be housed in Coakley's Boston office, will be an in-house training facility for small-scale specialized cybertraining for law enforcement statewide. It will have the capacity to handle complex cases and to assist law enforcement and other similar labs statewide on an as-needed basis.
Papargiris, a detective since 1998, has ben the lead investigator and forensic examiner for the Metropolitan Law Enforcement Council Computer Crime Unit, which serves 40 communities in the South Shore and southeastern regions. He's also served on the Secret Service Electronic Crimes Task Force.
In recent years, he's taught other officers such topics as basic computer forensics and seizure of digital evidence. The Air Force veteran is a graduate of Western New England College and the Massachusetts Criminal Justice Training Council Recruit Police Academy in Needham, and also received a computer forensic certificate degree from Marshall University in West Virginia. Papargiris begins in his new position on Monday, Feb. 25.
Kelly starts March 3 and will be responsible for overseeing the investigation and prosecution of cybercrimes, working closely with Division Chief Thomas Ralph. In addition, he will assist in the development, implementation and distribution of cybercrime forensic protocols.
He is an assistant district attorney in Suffolk County, where his caseload included primarily cases of high-tech and economic crimes, child exploitation, and child sexual and physical abuse. Kelly also oversaw the district attorney office's Computer Crime Division and computer forensics laboratory. He joined the office as an investigator of economic, larceny, fraud and Internet crimes.
Kelly holds several certifications in the field of computer forensics, including EnCase certification, a digital forensic accreditation. He is a graduate of Boston University and Suffolk University Law School.
"Chris has developed a strong reputation among local prosecutors and law enforcement officials as one of the region's top experts in the fight against cybercrime," said Coakley in the press release. "Given that Chris has a background in both investigations and criminal prosecution, he will be a tremendous asset to the office in our ongoing Cybercrime Initiative."
Coakley, a North Adams native, has made prevention and prosecution of cybercrime a priority of her administration. Shortly after taking office last year, she established a dedicated cybercrime division to lead her initiative. Last fall, she unveiled strategic plan designed to help the state develop a capacity to prevent, investigate, and prosecute cybercrimes.
The plan calls for law enforcement training, enhanced information sharing, the development of common operating procedures and standards, funding for cybercrime programs, and amending current law as it pertains to cybercrimes.
