PHILADELPHIA – In a shocking plot to breach the privacy of a presidential candidate, two former Haverford College students were sentenced for attempting to access Donald Trump’s tax returns. Justin Hiemstra, 22, of St. Paul Park, Minnesota, and Andrew Harris, 23, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, received two years’ probation and 200 hours of community service.
The crime dates back to August 2019 when Hiemstra pled guilty to using a school computer and someone else’s username without permission to attempt to obtain Trump’s tax returns from the Internal Revenue Service. Harris pled guilty to the same charges in September 2019.
The plot unfolded when the defendants, then students at Haverford College, used computers at the school’s computer lab and the Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) website to illegally access the tax returns. Hiemstra and Harris opened a false FAFSA application in the name of a member of the Trump family and found that someone else had already obtained a username and password for Donald Trump.
The defendants were able to reset the password by answering challenge questions, which the original person had created when setting up the account. They then used Trump’s personal identifying information, including his social security number and date of birth, to attempt to import the President’s federal tax information into the bogus FAFSA application.
“This was not a smart move,” said U.S. Attorney William M. McSwain. “They committed a serious violation of privacy rights and a federal crime in the process. Now they have both been held accountable. And those who complete the FAFSA application, please take note: this Office takes these kinds of cybersecurity breaches seriously and we are doing everything we can to keep your personal information safe.”
The case was investigated by the Department of Education – Office of Inspector General and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony J. Wzorek.
Defendant: Justin Hiemstra, 22, of St. Paul Park, Minnesota
Criminal Charges: Using a school computer and someone else’s username without permission to attempt to obtain Trump’s tax returns from the Internal Revenue Service
City and State: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Date: August 2019 (plea), September 2019 (plea), and [sentencing date not specified]
Sentence: Two years’ probation and 200 hours of community service
Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Category: Cybercrime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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