The Business Software Alliance (BSA), which represents the world's commercial software industry, announced today that BSA, on behalf of its member company Autodesk, Inc. has won a $540,115 judgment in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California against two individuals and their businesses alleged to have been producing and selling counterfeit software (Case #C09-02337). The lawsuit was originally filed on behalf of plaintiff Autodesk by the BSA in May 2009.

The individual defendants named in the case are Sean Saad of Manchester, New Hampshire, and Mehran Tabatabayee of Missouri City, Texas. The corporate defendants are HS Squared International, LLC, based in Manchester, New Hampshire and BuyPCSoft.com, Inc., based in Missouri City, Texas.

The case against these individuals and companies revolved around Autodesk's flagship product AutoCAD(R) and includes allegations of copyright infringement, circumvention of copyright protection measures, and trademark infringement. The judgment from the Honorable Ronald M. Whyte, U.S. District Court Judge for the Northern District of California, follows an intensive investigation by BSA involving purchases of suspicious software by BSA investigators and reports by members of the public submitted to BSA and Autodesk. Despite the price tag of up to $3,995 per software title, in each instance counterfeit product was received.

Along with the $540,115 judgment, the defendants are permanently enjoined from committing future acts of infringement involving Autodesk software products and Autodesk trademarks. Additionally, they have been ordered to destroy immediately any and all infringing copies of such software in their possession or control.

"This action is still another reminder that the theft of intellectual property such as software will not be tolerated," said Jenny Blank, Senior Director of Legal Affairs for BSA. "Although the BSA works hard to educate and inform people about the dangers of selling or acquiring illegal software, we sometimes need to take stronger actions to stop blatantly illegal activity."

"This particular investigation began as part of BSA's overall efforts against online sales of illegal software. As part of our global Internet program, we have focused attention on Web sites and individuals who profit illegally from the sale of products which they have no right to reproduce and sell. Ultimately, such fraudsters are duping unsuspecting consumers with substandard and potentially dangerous products," said Blank.

In part to reaffirm the growing severity of the consequences involved in participating in software piracy, BSA recently released "Faces of Internet Piracy," a revealing look at the human side of software piracy. Through this campaign, BSA spotlights true stories of people affected by piracy. According to Blank, "These stories are a wake-up call for distributors and users of illegal software. "Don't take our word for it; just listen to these software pirates explain how they made money by duping thousands of people into purchasing or downloading illegal software from the Internet. Hear how their actions ended up costing them serious fines and prison sentences."

Captain Michael Dung Nguyen, 28, of Ft. Lewis, Wash., pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Court Judge Ancer L. Haggerty to the crimes of theft of government property and structuring financial transactions. Nguyen is scheduled for sentencing on March 1, 2010 at 9:30 a.m.

In pleading guilty to the offenses, Nguyen admitted that while on deployment to Iraq, he stole and converted to his own use approximately $690,000 in U.S. currency.

Nguyen gained access to the currency in his capacity as the Project Purchasing Officer in the 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment of the U.S. Army. The currency was derived from Commander's Emergency Response Program (CERP) funds. CERP funds are the property of the United States and are managed by the Department of Defense. The currency was intended as payment for security contracts with the Sons of Iraq as well as humanitarian relief and reconstruction programs.

Nguyen transported the stolen currency into the District of Oregon by mailing it to himself at his family's Oregon residence prior to his return from Iraq. Shortly after he returned from Iraq, Nguyen opened new bank accounts at Bank of America, Washington Mutual Bank, America's Credit Union and Heritage Bank, and proceeded to deposit $387,550 of the stolen CERP currency into those accounts in Oregon and elsewhere. Between June 9, 2008 and Sept. 26, 2008, Nguyen made repeated deposits of stolen currency in a manner that was intended to evade federal reporting requirements for the deposit of large amounts of money.

After depositing the money in the accounts, Nguyen purchased a 2008 BMW and a 2009 Hummer H3T, in addition to purchasing computers, firearms, electronics and furniture. During the execution of a search warrant, investigators discovered over $300,000 in stolen CERP currency hidden in the attic of Nguyen's Portland family home.

At sentencing, the maximum penalty for each of the crimes of conviction is ten years in prison and a maximum fine of $500,000. In addition to pleading guilty, Nguyen agreed to forfeit all the stolen currency, as well as all of the personal property purchased with the stolen funds.

The investigation was initiated by the Portland office of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, following the discovery of large and frequent currency deposits and substantial expenditures above Captain Nguyen's legitimate income level. The investigation was joined by the FBI, the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division's Major Procurement Fraud Unit, and the Department of Defense's Criminal Investigative Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Erik Asphaug.

United States Attorney Karen P. Hewitt announced the filing of an information and the guilty plea today of an individual involved in the death of Customs and Border Protection Border Patrol Agent Robert W. Rosas, Jr. Agent Rosas was shot and killed on July 23, 2009, while he was on a routine patrol near San Diego, Calif. The information charges the defendant with the murder of a federal officer committed in perpetration of a robbery.

According to the plea agreement, Christian Daniel Castro-Alvarez, age 17, admitted that during the evening of July 23, 2009, he illegally entered the United States for the purpose of robbing a Border Patrol agent of government property. While Agent Rosas was engaged in the performance of his duties, Castro-Alvarez and his co-conspirators lured Agent Rosas out of his vehicle for the purpose of robbing him. During the course of the robbery, Agent Rosas and the defendant struggled over a firearm and Agent Rosas was shot multiple times by the defendant and one or more of the co-conspirators. Agent Rosas died as a result of the shots fired by one or more of the co-conspirators.

The defendant appeared before the Honorable M. James Lorenz, United States District Court Judge, this morning for a motion to transfer proceedings against a juvenile to adult criminal prosecution. He was later arraigned on the information and entered a guilty plea. According to documents submitted in district court in connection with the hearing today, the defendant was a minor at the time the offense was committed and he voluntarily surrendered to the United States to face criminal charges.

"Border Patrol Agent Robert Rosas was killed in the line of duty bravely protecting our border. Our nation owes him and his family a great debt of gratitude for his ultimate sacrifice in service of our country. Today's guilty plea is an important step in seeking justice on behalf of Agent Rosas," said United States Attorney Hewitt.

United States Attorney Hewitt also noted that, "since July 23, 2009, when this tragic incident occurred, federal agents and prosecutors together spent countless hours focused on this investigation. Our work on this case is not yet done, but I want to extend my deep appreciation to all of them for what they have achieved thus far and for their shared commitment to justice. The agents of the FBI San Diego Field Division deserve special thanks for their swift, professional, and comprehensive action in investigating Agent Rosas' death."

San Diego FBI Special Agent in Charge Keith Slotter commented, "While the investigation is ongoing, today's plea marks a significant day in this case. The night Agent Rosas was killed we all lost a brave officer whose mission was to defend our country from threats both domestic and abroad. We recognize the ultimate sacrifice Agent Rosas paid protecting this country. I am proud of the hard work our agents and the U.S. Attorney's Office have put into bringing this individual to justice."

The defendant is scheduled to appear next on Feb. 19, 2010, at 10:30 a.m., before Judge Lorenz for sentencing.

The investigation was assisted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Customs and Border Protection U.S. Border Patrol, and the San Diego County Sheriff's Department. The case is being prosecuted in San Diego federal court by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michelle Pettit and Seth Askins.

Veteran Managers at SONGS Nuclear Power Plant near San Clemente Say Southern California Edison Retaliated When They Reported Nuclear Safety Concerns

In whistleblower complaints filed this week with the U.S. Department of Labor, two managers at Southern California Edison's San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) say the company violated federal law when it retaliated against them for raising nuclear safety concerns.

Rick Busnardo and Mike Mason have worked at SONGS for 25 and 29 years respectively, and together manage the fabrication shop that builds steel casks for the long-term storage of the plant's spent fuel rods. The integrity of the casks is critical because the spent fuel remains highly radioactive for hundreds of years.

Busnardo and Mason allege that trouble began when they reported a "willful violation" of nuclear-safety standards to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in October 2008, after learning that a fabricator in their shop had performed welding operations that fell short of the plants' quality-assurance specifications. Busnardo and Mason believe their report angered Edison management because the NRC had cited the SONGS plant for a high level of such willful violations several months earlier, and the company wanted to avoid further scrutiny.

When upper-level management began to ostracize Busnardo and Mason and downplay the accuracy of their report, the two managers wrote an email to Edison's CEO and other senior management complaining that the company had created a chilled environment in which employees were afraid to raise safety concerns for fear of retaliation. The managers allege that Edison responded to their whistleblowing by removing their duties, denying Busnardo a promotion, issuing Mason a negative performance review, and attacking their professional reputations.

David J. Marshall, an attorney with the Washington, D.C., whistleblower law firm of Katz, Marshall & Banks, LLP who represents the workers, said that Busnardo and Mason have filed their complaints to ensure that SONGS employees and other nuclear workers can raise safety concerns without fear of retaliation. "Busnardo and Mason are protecting the health and safety of their coworkers and their communities," Marshall said. "Millions of people are in serious danger if workers at nuclear power plants can't speak out about safety problems without losing their jobs."

Orthopedic surgeon fails to diagnose and treat hip dysplasia in a newborn baby

A Fort Worth family has been awarded $210,530.73 by a Dallas County jury in a medical negligence case resulting from improper treatment to a newborn child by an orthopedic surgeon.

The lawsuit was filed in Dallas County by the child's mother, Tiffany Martinez, and alleged that Dr. Monica Omey and DFW Orthopedic Associates, P.A. failed to diagnose the hip dysplasia [dislocation] and failed to provide appropriate care for the child. Trial began in Dallas County before Judge King Fifer on October 26. On October 30 the jury reached a verdict in favor of the family and awarded $210,530.73.

Tiffany's daughter was born on April 7, 2005. Her pediatrician referred her to an orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Monica Omey at DFW Orthopedic Associates, P.A., for evaluation and treatment of possible hip dislocation. The jury found that Dr. Omey was negligent in the care provided to the child.

As a result of Dr. Omey's failure to diagnose and treat the hip dislocation, the child required surgery to repair her hip. She spent three months in a cast, several more months in a brace, and may require future surgery. The evidence showed that the child has had a positive recovery with no current limitations in her activities.

"Children should receive the quality of care that they deserve from healthcare providers," said attorney John David Hart of the Law Offices of John David Hart in Fort Worth, who represented the family. "We are pleased that the jury found the physician responsible for failing to provide the appropriate care to the baby."

The Law Offices of John David Hart is a group of experienced and dedicated legal professionals working to protect the rights of people wronged by the acts of others. Across the country, the firm represents individuals in cases of medical malpractice, catastrophic personal injury, wrongful death, dangerous drugs, automobile and truck accidents, oil and gas and commercial litigation.

SOURCE The Law Offices of John David Hart

Sixteen new lawsuits allege that KBR, Inc. (NYSE: KBR) jeopardized the health and safety of tens of thousands of American soldiers and private contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan by burning vast quantities of unsorted waste in enormous open-air burn pits with no safety controls.

The lawsuits were filed during the past week in federal courts throughout the nation by Burke O'Neil LLC and co-counsel on behalf of military veterans and private contractors. The suits allege that round-the-clock hazardous emissions from the burn pits caused illnesses such as multiple cancers, respiratory disease, pulmonary complications, chronic coughing, debilitating headaches, and neurological and skin disorders.

KBR is accused of allowing thick, noxious smoke, coming off of flames sometimes colored blue or green by burning chemicals, to hang over U.S. bases and camps across Iraq and Afghanistan since 2004.

According to the complaints, the burn pits are so large that tractors are used to push waste onto them and the flames shoot hundreds of feet into the sky. KBR allegedly burned waste such as biohazard materials including human corpses, medical supplies, paints, solvents, asbestos, items containing pesticides, animal carcasses, tires, lithium batteries, Styrofoam, wood, rubber, medical waste, large amounts of plastics, and even entire trucks.

Susan L. Burke, Elizabeth M. Burke, and Susan M. Sajadi, of Burke O'Neil LLC, in Washington, D.C., and co-counsel represent the more than 200 veterans, KBR employee-contractors and families in the cases which are pending in 37 states.

Elizabeth M. Burke, of Burke O'Neil LLC, stated, "KBR utterly disregarded the safety of the troops when they chose to use open air burn pits and failed to use incinerators and other safer methods of waste disposal. The hazards of operating large open-air burn pits were well known, and KBR promised to minimize the environmental effects of the burn sites they operated in Iraq and Afghanistan. KBR willfully endangered these men and women who honorably served their country in military service or in support of the military."

The legal team for the plaintiffs intends to seek class certification of the lawsuits to cover costs of medical monitoring, future medical expenses, and other damages for other individuals exposed to KBR burn pit emissions.

The new cases were filed in federal courts in Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, and Washington. Earlier this year, dozens of other current and former military personnel, private contractors and families of men who allegedly died as a result of exposure to toxic emissions from KBR burn pits brought similar claims.

Crown Athlete Management Company, Inc. ("Crown AMG"), an athlete management, marketing, and sponsorship procurement company, has filed a multi-million dollar lawsuit against Hansen Beverage Company ("HBC"), doing business as Monster Beverage Company ("Monster") for fraud, intentional interference with contractual relations, and related claims. The lawsuit, filed in San Diego County, alleges that Monster fraudulently induced Crown AMG to enter into agreements, fraudulently concealed its true intentions to exclude Crown AMG from earning fees and commissions, and made numerous false promises to Crown AMG about potential future business opportunities.

In 2003, Scott "Hollywood" Sepkovic founded Crown AMG as a comprehensive marketing, branding, and athlete management firm. According to the lawsuit, that same year, Crown AMG was recruited by Mark Hall, President of Monster, to help market and build brand recognition for the "new" Monster Energy Drink. The Monster Energy Drink had only been launched the prior year, and had yet to establish significant brand recognition.

Over the next 6 years, Crown AMG was instrumental in building brand recognition for Monster worldwide. HBC's sales skyrocketed from $115 million in 2002 to $1.18 billion in 2008. Crown AMG believes that its efforts helped HBC land the #1( )position on the "Forbes 200 Best Small Companies" List in 2005 and 2007. Further, in July of 2006, Fortune Magazine stated that, "Since the beginning of 2004, Hansen Natural's stock [had] risen a Google-stomping 3,900% to $170."

In the lawsuit, Crown AMG alleges that Monster unlawfully interfered with Crown AMG's business by, among other things, filing lawsuits against Crown AMG clients, instructing Crown AMG's clients not to pay Crown AMG, and making false representations to Crown AMG and its clients.

"We are seeking appropriate relief from the court and will continue conducting business in the meantime," said Scott Sepkovic, President of Crown AMG. "I can only say that Crown AMG suffered and continues to suffer actual monetary loss as a result of Monster's interference with Crown AMG's relationships with many companies and individuals."

The lawsuit alleges that Monster adhered to its own motto - "Unleash the Beast" - and ignored the law by bullying its former allies into submission. The lawsuit appears intended to disabuse Monster of that belief, and seeks punitive damages to punish Monster for its alleged unlawful conduct. The lawsuit was filed on November 3, 2009, and no court determination has been reached on the merits.

The Business Software Alliance (BSA), the voice of the world's commercial software industry, has identified Texas as a national hotspot in terms of reports of illegal software use and is urging individuals across the state and in the Houston area specifically to report the use of pirated software by businesses to NoPiracy.com.

In conjunction with the online software piracy reporting network at NoPiracy.com, BSA also maintains the manned 1-888-NO PIRACY hotline. Individuals can confidentially offer information on unlicensed software use as well as register to claim rewards of up to $1 million. Since 2008, BSA has paid a total of $220,650 in rewards for verifiable tips of software piracy. Despite the rewards program, many opt not to take the reward, citing their motivation as simply "to do the right thing."

Reporting by the general public over the past nine months shows that the state of Texas is a top five hotspot for reports of illegal software use with a large portion coming from the Houston area. Dallas-Ft. Worth was a close second in terms of reports of software piracy, while the Austin and San Antonio regions were a distant third and fourth.

"This is the first time BSA has identified specific U.S. states as 'Software Piracy Hotspots,' although our records over the last years have shown that Houston has consistently been active in terms of illegal software reports," said Jenny Blank, Senior Director of Legal Affairs for BSA. "Our analysis of the trends suggests two things: First, given the number of leads from Southeastern and central Texas, people in the state are obviously quite concerned about this issue and don't like the idea of local companies using what amounts to stolen software products. Second, there are clearly a lot of companies in Texas who are not concerned that they are breaking the law and are willing to take the risks associated with that decision. For many companies, such blatant disregard for the law has proven costly."

Each year, BSA receives on average over 2,500 reports of software piracy from across the country. The majority of the reports come from current or former employees who had information related to the unlicensed software activity.

According to the Sixth Annual BSA-IDC Global Software Piracy Study, the retail value of unlicensed software installed in 2008 -- representing revenue losses to software companies -- was estimated at $9.1 billion in the United States and $53 billion worldwide.

The national average software piracy rate in 2008 was 20%, meaning that one in five pieces of PC software installed in the United States was unlicensed. Texas' rate however is also 20% according to the 2007 State Piracy Report released last year and also conducted by IDC. While in line with the national average, the rate is still dismally high given the cost of piracy to the economy.

Software piracy in Texas cost software vendors an estimated $627 million, which is the third-highest figure of the eight states included in the study. Lost revenues to a wider group of Texas software distributors and service providers cost an additional $1.7 billion, which is, for example, enough to hire more than 9,200 tech workers. The lost state and local tax revenues -- $223 million -- would also have been enough to fund the hiring of more than 4,000 experienced police officers. These are significant economic losses especially in light of the troubled economy.

Reducing piracy brings tangible economic benefits to the local IT industry and local communities. For every $1 of PC software licensed, there is another $3 to $4 of revenues for local service and distribution firms, as well as tax revenues to support local services, according to the BSA-IDC Global Software Piracy Study.

"Staggering economic losses like these clearly appear to resonate with many individuals in Texas who have decided to come forward and confidentially report instances of unlicensed software use in their organizations," said Blank.

Financial Risks

Businesses found to be using unlicensed software may be required to pay thousands of dollars in damages to BSA. A company found using unlicensed software and violating copyright laws could pay damages of up to $150,000 for each software title copied. If convicted, violators can be fined up to $250,000 per title or given a jail term of up to five years, or both.

When BSA receives a tip about a company using pirated software, it typically contacts the company and asks it to conduct an audit of its software assets. If unlicensed software is found, the next step is for both parties to work toward a resolution that involves immediate legalization of software.

Security Risks

Pirated software can also pose security risks to the users' networks and computers. Company computers can be infected with trojans, viruses, malware, and other threats, and this in turn can expose sensitive data and personal information of employees and customers. As companies and government agencies have found, having confidential information exposed to outsiders is costly and can put an organization's reputation at risk.

Tools & Resources to Ensure Compliance

BSA works with businesses to help ensure that their company isn't at risk of the financial, technical, and legal risks associated with illegal software. In addition to the educational and self-audit resources provided online at www.bsa.org, BSA has partnered with the U.S. Small Business Administration to educate up to 100,000 small businesses on software licenses, copyright laws, tips on how to purchase safe and legal software online, and how to develop an SAM program.

Troy, Mich., resident Syed Aziz pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Detroit to participating in a conspiracy to defraud the Medicare program, Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Terrence Berg of the Eastern District of Michigan and Daniel R. Levinson, Inspector General of the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) announced.

In his plea today, Aziz, a licensed physical therapist, admitted that he began working in approximately May 2005 as a contract therapist for a co-conspirator, Suresh Chand. Chand owned and controlled several companies operating in the Detroit area that purported to provide physical and occupational therapy services to Medicare beneficiaries. Aziz admitted that he, Chand, and others created fictitious therapy files appearing to document physical and occupational therapy services provided to Medicare beneficiaries, when in fact no such services were provided. According to court documents, the fictitious services reflected in the files were billed to Medicare through sham Medicare providers controlled by co-conspirators.

Chand admitted to paying cash kickbacks and other inducements to Medicare beneficiaries in exchange for the beneficiaries' Medicare numbers and signatures on documents falsely indicating that they had received physical or occupational therapy. Chand pleaded guilty on Sept. 28, 2009, in U.S. District Court in Detroit to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and one count of conspiracy to launder money. Aziz admitted that he was one of the licensed physical or occupational therapists from whom Chand obtained signatures on fictitious "progress notes" and other documents falsely indicating that the therapists had provided services to the Medicare beneficiaries.

Aziz also admitted that during the course of the scheme, he signed approximately 400 fictitious physical therapy files, indicating that he had provided physical therapy services to Medicare beneficiaries, when in fact he had not. Aziz admitted that he was paid between $70 and $90 for each file he falsified. Aziz also admitted that between approximately May 2005 and December 2006, he falsified physical therapy files that supported claims to the Medicare program totaling approximately $1,895,000. According to court documents, Medicare paid approximately $817,000 on those claims. Aziz admitted that throughout the conspiracy he was fully aware that Medicare was being billed for physical therapy services that he falsely indicated he had performed.

At sentencing, scheduled for Feb. 3, 2010, Aziz faces a maximum prison sentence of 10 years and a $250,000 fine.

The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys John K. Neal, Gejaa T. Gobena and Benjamin Singer of the Criminal Division's Fraud Section and by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas W. Beimers of the Eastern District of Michigan. The FBI and the HHS Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) conducted the investigation. The case was brought as part of the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, supervised by the Criminal Division's Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Michigan.

Since the inception of Strike Force operations in March 2007 -- Miami (Phase One), Los Angeles (Phase Two), Detroit (Phase Three) and Houston (Phase Four) -- the Strike Force has obtained indictments of more than 331 individuals and organizations that collectively have billed the Medicare program for more than $720 million. In addition, HHS's Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the HHS-OIG, are taking steps to increase accountability and decrease the presence of fraudulent providers.

Each of the Strike Force teams across the separate phases is led by a federal prosecutor from the Criminal Division's Fraud Section or the U.S. Attorney's Office. Each team has an agent from the FBI and HHS-OIG.

A former State Department employee was sentenced today to 12 months of probation for illegally accessing more than 75 confidential passport application files, Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division announced. William A. Celey, 28, of Washington, was also ordered to perform 50 hours of community service by U.S. Magistrate Judge Deborah A. Robinson in the District of Columbia. On July 10, 2009, Celey pleaded guilty to a one-count criminal information charging him with unauthorized computer access.

According to court documents, from August 2003 through July 2004, Celey worked as a contract employee for the State Department as a file assistant. According to plea documents, Celey admitted he had access to official State Department computer databases in the regular course of his employment, including the Passport Information Electronic Records System (PIERS), which contains all imaged passport applications dating back to 1994. The imaged passport applications on PIERS contain, among other things, a photograph of the passport applicant as well as certain personal information including the applicant's full name, date and place of birth, current address, telephone numbers, parent information, spouse's name and emergency contact information. These confidential files are protected by the Privacy Act of 1974, and access by State Department employees is strictly limited to official government duties.

In pleading guilty, Celey admitted that between June 22, 2004, and July 15, 2004, he logged onto the PIERS database and viewed the passport applications of more than 75 celebrities and their families, actors, models, musicians, athletes, record producers, family members, a politician and other individuals identified in the press. Celey admitted that he had no official government reason to access and view these passport applications, but that his sole purpose in accessing and viewing these passport applications was idle curiosity.

Celey is the sixth current or former State Department employee to plead guilty in this continuing investigation. On Sept. 22, 2008, Lawrence C. Yontz, a former Foreign Service Officer and intelligence analyst, pleaded guilty to unlawfully accessing nearly 200 confidential passport files. Yontz was sentenced on Dec. 19, 2008, to 12 months of probation and ordered to perform 50 hours of community service. On Jan. 14, 2009, Dwayne F. Cross, a former administrative assistant and contract specialist, pleaded guilty to unlawfully accessing more than 150 confidential passport files. On March 23, 2009, Cross was sentenced to 12 months of probation and ordered to perform 100 hours of community service. On Jan. 27, 2009, Gerald R. Lueders, a former Foreign Service Officer, watch officer and recruitment coordinator, pleaded guilty to unlawfully accessing more than 50 confidential passport files. Lueders was sentenced on July 8, 2009, to 12 months of probation and ordered to pay a $5,000 fine. On Aug. 17, 2009, Kevin M. Young, a contact representative, pleaded guilty to unlawfully accessing more than 125 confidential passport files. Young is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 9, 2009. On Aug. 26, 2009, Karak Busch, a former citizens services specialist, pleaded guilty to unlawfully accessing more than 65 confidential passport files. Busch is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 15, 2009.

These cases are being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Armando O. Bonilla of the Criminal Division's Public Integrity Section, headed by Section Chief William M. Welch II. The cases are being investigated by the State Department Office of Inspector General.

SOURCE U.S. Department of Justice