April 17--A former information technology manager for a company in Northbrook has been indicted for allegedly intercepting and disclosing company emails, and damaging servers maintained by the company.
George Turner, 50, of Vernon Hills, was charged with computer fraud, illegal wire interceptions and disclosing information from illegal wire interceptions, federal prosecutors announced Thursday.
According to the indictment, Turner worked as manager of information technology for the unidentified company from 2007 until March 2014 and had access to its computer network and servers.
Shortly after Turner left the company, he allegedly intercepted the emails of two executives of the firm.
On May 12, 2014, Turner accessed and caused significant damage to some of the company's servers, authorities said.
In July 2014, Turner allegedly sent to other unnamed people information that he got from the hacked emails, including content about the company's payroll, executive bonuses and pricing.
"This defendant used his skills to cause significant damage to his former employer, and illegally to obtain private information," U.S. Attorney Zachary Fardon said in a news release. "Cybercrime hurts companies and their employees, and we will prosecute those responsible."
Turner was scheduled for arraignment Tuesday in federal court in Chicago.
The computer fraud count carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine upon conviction. Each of the two illegal wire interception counts carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
rmccoppin@tribpub.com
