FBI News: Wilkes-Barre Man Indicted For Computer Hacking

Department of Justice

U.S. Attorney’s Office

Middle District of Pennsylvania

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, December 21, 2016

SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Justin Bodnar, age 27, of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, was indicted on December 20, 2016, by a federal grand jury for intentionally accessing protected computers without authorization.

According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, the indictment charges Bodnar with an incident in 2013 in which Bodnar allegedly hacked a computer and thereby obtained the e-mails of another individual which he then attempted to sell. The indictment also charges Bodnar with causing intentional damage to a computer stemming from multiple incidents in 2012 in which Bodnar allegedly hacked the computers of his former employer and caused damage to those computers.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. O’Hara is prosecuting the case.

Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

The maximum penalty under federal law for these offenses is 10 years’ imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.

USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

Updated December 21, 2016