Hammond - Rico Prunty, 36, of Sierra Vista, Arizona has been charged with conspiracy to commit identity theft, aggravated identity theft, and criminal violations of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), announced U.S. Attorney Kirsch.
According to court documents, between in or about July 2014 and continuing through in or about May 2017, Rico Prunty, an employee at an Arizona medical facility, accessed his employer’s patient medical intake forms which contained patients’ individually identifiable health information (i.e., patient names, dates of birth, social security numbers, and medical information) and provided that information to his co-conspirators in Northwest Indiana. His co-conspirators then utilized that personal information to open numerous credit card accounts or access existing credit card accounts without the knowledge, permission, or authority of these Arizona residents.
The United States Attorney’s Office emphasized that an Indictment is merely an allegation and that all persons are presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty in court.
If convicted in court, any specific sentence to be imposed will be determined by the judge after consideration of federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
This case was the result of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and in being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Toi Denise Houston.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
