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Ezekiel Dean Potter, a 34-year-old former IT employee, hacked into the Saydel Community School District in Des Moines, Iowa, over a year and a half after being terminated in April 2023. Potter downloaded over 300 usernames and passwords, using them to disrupt district operations, including taking down a social media page, revoking employee access, and deleting accounts. The attacks culminated in January 2025, suspending classes for multiple hours. Potter’s motive appears to be revenge against his former employer.
Potter’s hacking attempts were often launched from the offices of his subsequent employers, and he even left behind a USB drive containing hundreds of district usernames and passwords at one of these jobs. After realizing his mistake, he attempted to have a former coworker wipe the drive. The FBI investigated the case, and Potter was eventually caught and sentenced to 21 months in prison.
In addition to his prison sentence, Potter was ordered to pay $59,668.81 in restitution to the school district and its insurer. The sentence reflects the significant disruptions and financial losses caused by Potter’s malicious actions. The case highlights the importance of protecting sensitive data and the consequences of using it for revenge or personal gain.
The FBI’s Special Agent in Charge, Eugene Kowel, stated that Potter’s actions resulted in significant disruptions to school operations, demonstrating the serious impact of computer fraud on organizations and communities.
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