Brooke E. Reyna, a 28-year-old State Department employee, has pleaded guilty to making false statements about accessing confidential passport files, officials announced today.
Reyna, of Barrington, N.H., admitted to lying to State Department officials during an investigation into her alleged illegal access of hundreds of confidential passport application files, said Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division.
According to plea documents, Reyna worked in various capacities at the National Passport Center in Portsmouth, N.H., including as a passport specialist, from May 2004 until the present.
Reyna had access to official State Department computer databases, including the Passport Information Electronic Records System (PIERS), which contains passport applications dating back to 1994.
The PIERS database holds sensitive information including photographs, personal details, and contact information of passport applicants, protected by the Privacy Act of 1974.
Reyna admitted to accessing and viewing the passport applications of over 500 celebrities, actors, reality TV contestants, and other individuals between May 2004 and February 2008, driven by idle curiosity.
When confronted with her actions, Reyna lied, claiming she did not recall accessing the files.
To date, 10 current or former State Department employees or contractors have pleaded guilty in this ongoing investigation, which is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Timothy J. Kelly and investigated by the State Department Office of Inspector General.
RELATED: Ex-State Department Worker Admits to Snooping on Celebs’ Passports
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Key Facts
- State: Federal
- Category: Public Corruption|White Collar Crime|Cybercrime
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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