WORCESTER – Two men face charges in federal court in Worcester for allegedly conspiring to access a protected computer of their former employer, a non-profit substance use and mental health treatment provider.
A grand jury indicted Nathan Howe, 42, of Rutland, on charges of wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to access a protected computer to obtain information and cause damage, and intentionally causing damage to a protected computer and impairing medical treatment.
Patrick Edmonds-Morin, 31, of Union, CT, faces charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to access a protected computer to obtain information.
Edmonds-Morin is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday, June 28.
Federal prosecutors allege that t both men were employed by the treatment provider and between September and December 2021 conspired to access records of employee, listen to and view conversations between the employees, and create and deploy a computer program designed to impede a Vice President of the company’s use of the network.
In November 2021, Howe allegedly access the computer network and shut it down for one of the providers locations. The shut down made the non-profit’s electronic medical records system inaccessible at multiple sites and impaired treatment.
The two are also alleged to have committed wire fraud by obtaining cell phones from a provider intended for staff members and selling the phones.
The charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000.
The charge of conspiracy to access a protected computer without authorization to obtain information and cause damage, provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000.
The charge of intentionally causing damage without authorization to a protected computer and causing the potential impairment of medical treatment provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000.
The charge of conspiracy to access a protected computer without authorization to obtain information, provides for a sentence of up to one year in prison, up to one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000.
