Jason Weiss, ’92

Computer forensics agent for the FBI

For someone who loved computer games as a kid, Jason Weiss ’92 has the perfect job. "It’s a blast," he says, "they pay me to play on computers all day." No, he’s not a programmer, nor a computer repairman. Hint: His job also involves carrying a 40-caliber Glock 27, breaking down doors, and wearing a blue windbreaker with three block letters on the back. Yes, Weiss works for the FBI.

During law school at SCU, Weiss took a summer internship with the Legal Council Division of the FBI in Washington, D.C. But upon graduation from SCU, he took a more expected career path, working as a trial attorney in Central California doing civil litigation, insurance defense, and medical malpractice defense.

After three years, Weiss was unsure if he wanted to remain a practicing attorney for the rest of his career. He submitted his resume to the FBI, and two years later, in 1997, he got the call. "I was one of 90,000 applicants for 3,000 jobs that year," Weiss says, "I figured you only get asked once."

Weiss’ firm offered him a partnership if he would stay, but he turned it down. "I could always go back to the law, but this was a unique opportunity," he explains.

Weiss’ first assignment was four months at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia, learning "how to investigate cases, conduct interviews, analyze evidence, and shoot guns," he says.

Weiss was then assigned to a violent crime squad in San Diego, where he investigated crimes ranging from kidnappings to bank robberies. He was then assigned to a computer crime squad in 1998, where he helped create the San Diego Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory, the first of its kind in the nation.

As a computer forensics agent and expert in most complex forms of electronic discovery, Weiss has examined hundreds of computers searching for digital evidence of crimes including different white-collar crimes, international terrorism, crimes against children, and computer intrusion. The satisfaction in his work, besides being at the forefront of computer technology and a rapidly evolving area of computer law, is putting criminals behind bars.

One such person was David Westerfield, convicted in 2002 for the kidnap and murder of 7-year-old Danielle van Dam. "Computer forensics were a big part of the case," says Weiss. He recovered digital evidence used to dispute Westerfield’s testimony that the child pornography on his computer, used by the prosecution to prove motive, was actually downloaded by his son.

Working on child crimes is tough, says Weiss, who, with his wife, Cammy, has two children, 4-year-old Justin, and 1-year-old Kayla. "Being a lawyer," he says, "has really helped me do this job. You have to ensure your intellect dominates your emotion and that you can maintain the level of focus necessary to conduct an impartial computer forensics examination."

Weiss, one of only a handful of lawyers with this specialty throughout the FBI, says his legal education and experience as a trial lawyer serve him well. "SCU is a great law school. My legal background is a tremendous asset. I solve cases the same as I would prepare a case for trial. I am fortunate in that I am now, however, able to speak lawyer, computer, and FBI agent."

Weiss also spends significant time as the lead instructor teaching digital evidence identification and collection to the FBI’s evidence response teams throughout the country.

Weiss describes his work for the FBI as "amazing," adding, "The FBI is the most interesting employer on the planet. You never get bored."