Susan Holloman, Passport File Theft, Washington 2010

Passport File Thief Caught in the Act

Susan Holloman, a 58-year-old resident of Washington, has pleaded guilty to stealing confidential passport files from the U.S. government. According to court documents, Holloman worked full-time for the State Department since November 1980 as a file assistant in the Bureau of Consular Affairs.

Holloman was charged with one count of unauthorized computer access. Her guilty plea was entered before U.S. Magistrate Judge Alan Kay in the District of Columbia on an unspecified date. She is scheduled to be sentenced on January 21, 2010.

According to court documents, Holloman had access to official State Department computer databases in the regular course of her job, including the Passport Information Electronic Records System (PIERS). PIERS contains all imaged passport applications dating back to 1994, which includes personal information such as photographs, full names, dates and places of birth, current addresses, telephone numbers, parent information, spouse's names, and emergency contact information.

Holloman admitted to searching for and viewing the passport applications of 70 celebrities and their families, actors, professional athletes, musicians, and other individuals identified in the press. Her sole purpose in accessing and viewing these passport applications was idle curiosity.

This is the eighth case of a current or former State Department employee or contractor pleading guilty to accessing confidential passport files without authorization. Lawrence C. Yontz, a former Foreign Service Officer and intelligence analyst, was sentenced to 12 months of probation and 50 hours of community service for accessing nearly 200 confidential passport files. Dwayne F. Cross, a former administrative assistant and contract specialist, was also sentenced to 12 months of probation and 100 hours of community service for accessing more than 150 confidential passport files.

The cases are being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Armando O. Bonilla of the Criminal Division's Public Integrity Section. The cases are being investigated by the State Department Office of Inspector General.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/eighth-person-pleads-guilty-illegally-accessing-confidential-passport-files