New Jersey Man Admits Deleting Former Employer’s Network Files

NEWARK, N.J. – A former information technology employee today admitted accessing his former employer’s computer network and deleting files, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

David Campos, 60, of Union, New Jersey, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Kevin McNulty in Newark federal court to an information charging him with fraud and related activity in connection with computers.

According to documents filed in the case and statements made in court:

From 2005 through February 2017, Campos was an employee of and provided information technology services to a business whose corporate offices were located in Jersey City, New Jersey.

After he was no longer employed by the company, Campos accessed its network without authorization on July 25, 2017, July 28, 2017, and August 1, 2017. Each time, he deleted numerous files from the company’s network. Campos acknowledged in the plea agreement that his actions resulted in losses of more than $150,000. The United States reserved the right to argue that Campos’ actions resulted in losses of up to $1.5 million.

The charge to which Campos pleaded guilty carries a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison and $250,000 fine, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense. Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 22, 2019.

U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited and special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Gregory W. Ehrie, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea.

The government is represented by Senior Litigation Counsel Andrew Kogan and Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Herring, Chief of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Cybercrime Prevention and Enforcement Unit in Newark.

Defense counsel: Michael Koribanics Esq., Clifton, New Jersey