Internet Law News

Queens Man Sentenced to 27 Months Imprisonment on Federal Charges of Computer Damage Access Device Fraud and Software Piracy

In his guilty plea to the computer damage charges, JIANG admitted that, between February 14, 2001, and December 20, 2002, without the permission of Kinko's Inc. ("Kinko's"), he installed special keylogging software on computer terminals located at Kinko's stores throughout Manhattan to surreptitiously record keystroking activity on those computers, and to collect computer usernames and passwords of Kinko's customers. During his plea allocution, JIANG admitted that his installation of the keylogging software could damage the Kinko's computers on which they were installed. JIANG admitted that he then used the confidential information he obtained to access, or attempt to access, bank accounts belonging to other persons, and fraudulently to open online bank accounts. JIANG also pled guilty to similar fraudulent conduct that he continued to commit while on bail after his arrest on December 20, 2002.

In addition to the computer damage charges set forth in Counts One and Two of the Information, JIANG also pled guilty to computer access-device fraud, as charged in Count Three of the Information. With regard to those charges, JIANG admitted that, between February 14, 2001 and December 20, 2002, he fraudulently possessed more than 15 computer usernames and passwords belonging to other persons for the purpose of accessing their bank and financial services accounts, opening online bank accounts in the names of those persons, and transferring funds to unauthorized accounts.

JIANG also pled guilty to two counts of software piracy for his online sale in 2000 of copies of Microsoft Office 2000 Professional Edition, in violation of Microsoft's copyrights in its software.

Mr. KELLEY praised the investigative efforts of the United States Secret Service's Electronic Crimes Task Force and thanked Kinko's for its assistance and support throughout the investigation.

Assistant United States Attorney JOSEPH V. De MARCO is in charge of the prosecution.

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