Auxiliary NYPD Officer Accused Of Hacking Police Computer, FBI Database In Fraud Scheme
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - An auxiliary officer with the NYPD allegedly hacked into various law enforcement databases as part of an elaborate fraud scheme, authorities said Tuesday.
Yehuda Katz allegedly installed a hidden camera in the traffic safety office in the 70th Precinct station house. He also allegedly installed a device that would allow him to access a computer there remotely. Katz, 45, is an auxiliary deputy inspector at that Brooklyn precinct, authorities said.
Auxiliary NYPD Officer Accused Of Hacking Police Computer, FBI Database In Fraud Scheme
He allegedly accessed the databases to find out information about victims of traffic accidents across New York City. According to the federal complaint, the defendant ran more than 6,400 searches in four months on law enforcement computers, WCBS 880's Irene Cornell reported.
Katz would then contact the people involved in the accident and claim to be an attorney, authorities said. He'd ask for a fee of 14 percent of any money they might collect through legal claims, according to authorities.
"The threat posed by those who abuse positions of trust to engage in insider attacks is serious, and we will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to vigorously prosecute such attacks," said U.S. Attorney Loretta Lynch.
"As alleged, Katz illegally accessed sensitive law enforcement computer systems for his own personal gain," said FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Diego Rodriguez. "This type of behavior betrays the public's trust and cannot be tolerated."
He was released on $75,000 unsecured bail, CBS2's Tony Aiello reported.
Katz faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
