Carrie Case, Medical Record Theft, Nebraska 2016

Carrie Case, a 42-year-old Omaha woman, was sentenced to three years of probation on October 31, 2016, for stealing confidential medical records from two major Omaha health systems. The conviction, handed down by Honorable Chief District Court Judge Laurie Smith Camp, marks the end of a federal case rooted in betrayal of trust and unauthorized access to sensitive patient data.

Case, who worked as a clerk at a physicians’ clinic in Omaha, exploited her position to unlawfully access electronic and hard copy medical records between February 8, 2015, and April 8, 2015. On four separate occasions, she pulled up confidential files belonging to a single individual tied to the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) and Children’s Hospital & Medical Center (CHIH) networks—records she had no right to view.

Not only did Case access the files, she copied and handed them over to a third party with no legitimate reason and without the patient’s consent. The motive remains officially uncharged, but investigators confirmed the transfer was not part of any medical, legal, or administrative procedure—making it a clear violation of federal health privacy law.

The crime falls under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which strictly prohibits unauthorized access and disclosure of protected health information. Case’s actions triggered a federal probe, elevating what might have been an internal clinic violation into a criminal offense with lasting consequences.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation, tracing digital footprints and clinic access logs that directly linked Case to the breaches. Authorities emphasized that even clerical staff are bound by federal law when handling health data—and that no excuse justifies weaponizing medical records against individuals.

While no prison time was imposed, the three-year probation sentence sends a message: health data is not for snooping, sharing, or settling scores. For Carrie Case, a desk job at a clinic became the stage for a federal crime—one that will shadow her record for years to come.