MEMPHIS, TN – A local man has been sentenced to federal prison for stealing personal information from the cloud, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office for the Western District of Tennessee.
Jeffrey R. Luke, 42, of Collierville, was sentenced to 30 months in prison and three years supervised release for computer fraud and aggravated identity theft. In addition to his prison time, Luke was ordered to pay $14,941.36 in restitution.
Luke’s crime was uncovered after TACT’s information technology specialist noticed that the email address TACT employees used to log in to Google Drive had been compromised in March. Investigators identified the Internet protocol (IP) address through which the hack was accomplished, and traced it to Luke’s residence. A search warrant was executed; patient records, forms and templates were found on Luke’s computer hard drive.
Luke’s employment as a behavioral analyst at Transformations Autism Treatment Center (TACT) in Bartlett, Tennessee, was terminated in mid-February 2017. At the time of his termination, passwords were changed in order to protect the sensitive patient information stored in a password-protected secure Google Drive account.
LUKE’S SENTENCING: On March 2, 2018, U.S. District Judge John T. Fowlkes, Jr. handed down the sentence. Luke’s crime demonstrates the growing threat of cybercrime, and the commitment of the U.S. Attorney’s office to holding offenders accountable for such schemes.
The case was investigated by the FBI and Bartlett Police Department, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Deb Ireland prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
According to U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant, ‘With new and ever-changing technology, criminals are using more creative and disturbing ways to commit cyber-crimes against vulnerable victims, including identity theft. This case demonstrates the commitment and ability of the U.S. Attorney’s office, working with our federal and local law enforcement partners, to detect compromises of personal and sensitive information and hold offenders accountable for such fraudulent schemes.’
Key Facts
- State: Tennessee
- Category: Cybercrime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
CybercrimeCybercrimeCybercrimeCybercrime