NEW ORLEANS - U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser announced that GARY PETER SIMON, JR., age 56, a resident of Mandeville, Louisiana, was charged today in a one-count bill of information with intentionally accessing a protected computer without authorization and recklessly causing damage resulting in loss of more than $5,000 during one year, in violation of 18 U.S.C. '' 1030(a)(5)(B) and 1030(c)(4)(A).
According to the bill of information, on about Oct. 21, 2018, SIMON, intentionally accessed and attempted to access a protected computer without authorization, and as a result of such conduct, recklessly caused damage, namely loss to the United States Department of Energy-Strategic Petroleum Reserve Office, in the amount of at least $5,000.
If convicted, SIMON faces a maximum term of five (5) years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000.00, up to three (3) years of supervised release after imprisonment, and a mandatory $100 special assessment.
U. S. Attorney Strasser reiterated that a bill of information is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
U.S. Attorney Strasser praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Jordan Ginsberg, supervisor of the Public Corruption Unit, is in charge of the prosecution.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
