Former Worker Accused of Tampering TSA Computer

Douglas James Duchak, a man, aged 46 from Colorado Springs, received a federal indictment on March 9, 2010 from a jury, which represented Denver (USA). He was accused of intentionally trying to cause destruction to a PC of the TSA (Transportation Security Administration).

According to a Spokesman from the Office of a U.S. Attorney, Duchak was employed at the Colorado Springs Operation Center of TSA, wherein PCs were loaded with data by the government obtained from the Service Warrant Information Network of the U.S. Marshal and the Terrorist Screening Database of the U.S. federation, as reported by 9news.com during the second week of March 2010.

It is reported that Duchak apparently attempted to send a PC worm to the server of the system network of TSA when he came to know that he was about to be fired from his job.

And since the breach could endanger national security of the USA, three agencies reportedly collaborated to probe into the incident. These were the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the TSA itself.

Federal prosecutors said that although Duchak couldn't succeed in his evil intentions, yet, in case managed to accomplish his task, the act would have been disastrous. As a U.S. government computer, which was used in promoting national security, could have been harmed, as reported by 9news.com.

Commenting on the problem, James Davis, a special agent of FBI stated that fiddling with a system, which was utilized for safeguarding the nationwide security of USA, would not be accepted, according to the news published by Topnews.co.uk published on March 11, 2010.

Indeed, Davis further stated that although the attack came from an American citizen against the internal system of the country, the FBI would pursue prosecution. For that, the agency would invest its hard work, resources and time as required, as reported by 9news.com.

Meanwhile, initially when Duchak faced prosecution, he was declared innocent, following which he was released. But, if the U.S Courts now prove him guilty of trying to deliberately harm a protected PC, he could be imposed of a $500,000 fine, and sentenced to a maximum of 10-years imprisonment.

Related article: Former Council Intern Charged with Intruding City E-mail

» SPAMfighter News - 3/18/2010