Florida Resident Charged with Accessing a Protected Computer without Authorization and Recklessly Causing Damage

NEW ORLEANS –  U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser announced that CARLOS DAVID IRIAS, age 46, a resident of Cutler Bay, Florida, was charged today in a one-count bill of information with intentionally accessing a protected computer without authorization and recklessly causing damage resulting in loss to Company A, a company in New, Orleans, Louisiana that used to employ IRIAS, of more than $5,000 during one year, in violation of 18 U.S.C. '' 1030(a)(5)(B) and 1030(c)(4)(A).  Company A was in the business of that developing and distributing specialized urological medical devices including scopes and laser fibers. 

According to the bill of information, on about November 2, 2018, over one year after IRIAS separated from Company A, he intentionally accessed and attempted to access a protected computer without authorization.  Specifically, he access a secured cloud-based computer system Company A used to develop and store marketing-related materials, including email contact lists, marketing templates, and brochures.  After IRIAS obtained access without authorization to the cloud-based system, he exported the contents to a server under his control and deleted the information from the cloud-based system. As a result of such conduct, IRIAS recklessly caused damage to Company A, in the amount of at least $5,000.

If convicted, IRIAS faces a maximum term of five (5) years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000.00, up to three (3) years of supervised release after imprisonment, and a mandatory $100 special assessment.

U. S. Attorney Strasser reiterated that a bill of information is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

U.S. Attorney Strasser praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in investigating this matter.  Assistant United States Attorney Jordan Ginsberg, Supervisor of the Public Corruption Unit, is in charge of the prosecution.