Authorities: State employee used confidential information in identity fraud case

[security curmudgeon <jericho () attrition org>]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: InfoSec News <alerts () infosecnews org>

http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695269275,00.html

By Geoffrey Fattah
Deseret News
April 10, 2008

Federal officials said a former state employee who took applications from 
people seeking food stamps and other welfare aid worked with three others 
to steal the identity of Utah residents and charge tens of thousands of 
dollars in purchases.

During a joint press conference Thursday, federal and state officials said 
this was the largest security breach at the Department of Workforce 
Services and were working to re-instate the public's trust.

"It is a particularly gross crime," said U.S. Attorney for Utah Brett 
Tolman.

Authorities unsealed indictments against four individuals, including one 
state employee.

Charged were Joshua Smith, 32, of Murray; Michelle Chapman, 29, of Murray; 
John Johnstun, 44, or Midvale and Laura Bustamante, 34, of Midvale.

Authorities said Bustamante had worked on and off with the DWS as early as 
2000 and recently had worked as an eligibility specialist, taking 
applications from Utah residents applying for food stamps, financial aid, 
child care programs including CHIP and Medicaid.

[..]
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