Brandon A. Coughlin, Damaging Computers, Pennsylvania 2013

Damaging Computers

A Texas man has been charged with damaging computers at a Western Pennsylvania healthcare facility, causing over $5,000 in losses.

Brandon A. Coughlin, 29, of Houston, Texas, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of Intentional Damage to a Protected Computer and Wire Fraud, according to a release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania.

According to the indictment, Coughlin intentionally hacked and damaged 13 servers operated by the healthcare facility and engaged in a scheme to defraud the facility by using its purchase card to order merchandise from Staples. Coughlin was hired by the facility as an in-house computer systems administrator in January 2013, but resigned just a month later at the request of management.

Using the administrative passwords he knew from his employment, Coughlin hacked the computer network of the healthcare facility on September 18, 2013, disabling all administrative accounts needed to control the facility’s computer servers and deleting users’ network shares, business data, and patient health information data, including patient medical records.

Coughlin also is accused of committing wire fraud when he attempted to fraudulently purchase online iPad Air tablets on the Staples account of the healthcare facility. If convicted, Coughlin faces a maximum total sentence of 30 years in prison, a fine of $500,000 or both.

The case has been assigned to Chief U.S. District Judge Joy Flowers Conti, and Assistant United States Attorney Paul E. Hull is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. Coughlin waived his appearance at today’s arraignment hearing before Chief Magistrate Judge Maureen Kelly.

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