A former IT specialist has pled guilty to hacking into a former employee's patient database, stealing the information and wiping the database, according to an Atlanta Journal-Constitution report.
Eric McNeal worked as an IT specialist for the perinatal medical practice called A.P.A. in Atlanta in Nov. 2009 and then left to join a competing perinatal practice. He allegedly used his home computer to hack into his former employer's files in April 2010, download patients' names, addresses and telephone numbers and then delete all patient information from the system.
Prosecutors alleged Mr. McNeal used the information in a direct-mail marketing campaign to benefit the new, competing employer. Prosecutors said there was no evidence he misused the personal information.
Mr. McNeal will be sentenced on Dec. 5. He faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
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Eric McNeal worked as an IT specialist for the perinatal medical practice called A.P.A. in Atlanta in Nov. 2009 and then left to join a competing perinatal practice. He allegedly used his home computer to hack into his former employer's files in April 2010, download patients' names, addresses and telephone numbers and then delete all patient information from the system.
Prosecutors alleged Mr. McNeal used the information in a direct-mail marketing campaign to benefit the new, competing employer. Prosecutors said there was no evidence he misused the personal information.
Mr. McNeal will be sentenced on Dec. 5. He faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
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