Zachary T. Lee Acting United States Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Virginia
A former acting director of the Lynchburg Community Corrections & Pretrial Services Department (LCCPS) has admitted in federal court to accessing a protected law enforcement computer system and providing privileged information to her then-boyfriend, as well as lying to investigators and destroying evidence.
Jennifer Peters, 43, of Madison Heights, Virginia, pleaded guilty to charges including conspiracy, obstruction of a proceeding before a United States Agency, making false representations, and destruction of evidence.
Court documents show that in 2022 Peters supervised Brendon Cole Webber at LCCPS. In 2023 she became Acting Director while continuing to directly or indirectly oversee Webber’s probation. The two began a romantic relationship around August 2023. Due to her position, Peters had access to confidential law enforcement materials through the Lynchburg Police Department’s Records Management System (RMS).
Between November 11, 2023 and January 9, 2024, Peters provided Webber with unauthorized access to non-public information from RMS. Webber then shared this information with others.
On November 30, 2023, Webber was charged under Virginia law for unlawfully possessing a firearm and a warrant was issued for his arrest. Both Peters and Webber were aware of the warrant and an active U.S. Marshal’s fugitive manhunt for his apprehension.
Around December 19, 2023, following instructions from Webber, Peters drove him from Lynchburg to Hughestown, Pennsylvania in an attempt to obstruct the fugitive investigation. She also booked a hotel room during their travel at his direction.
When questioned by federal agents about her relationship with Webber and his whereabouts, Peters denied having recent contact with him or knowledge of his location or phone number. She also claimed not to know where her own cell phone was when she had given it to a friend. After speaking with investigators, she retrieved her phone and disposed of it in a landfill in an effort to destroy evidence.
Webber was arrested on January 9, 2024 in Hughestown.
He previously pleaded guilty at the state level to conspiracy charges related to computer fraud and obstruction of justice as well as unlawful possession of a firearm. In May he pleaded guilty federally to illegal possession of a firearm by a felon and two counts of conspiracy against the United States.
Sentencing for both defendants is scheduled later this year.
"C. Todd Gilbert, United States Attorney for the Western District of Virginia, and Stephen Farina, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division made the announcement."
"The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the City of Lynchburg Police Department are investigating the case."
"Assistant U.S. Attorney Vito Iaia is prosecuting the case."
