DataBreaches.Net

Menu
  • About
  • Breach Notification Laws
  • Privacy Policy
  • Transparency Report
Menu

Chester County Man Pleads Guilty to Hacking into Area College Computer Networks

Posted on January 24, 2022 by Dissent

PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams announced that Timothy Spillane, 39, of Chester Springs, PA, pleaded guilty before United States District Court Judge Joel Slomsky to accessing a protected computer network without authorization, arising from his intrusions into the digital networks of two suburban Philadelphia-area colleges.

According to court documents, between November 2017 and January 2018, the defendant hacked into approximately 25 school network email accounts at two local colleges belonging to students and staff. After gaining access to these accounts, Spillane obtained the personal identifying information of the account holders and others, including W-2 tax forms and student financial information. The defendant then attempted to submit fraudulent tax returns using the stolen information, but he was unsuccessful because he could not accurately determine the victims’ adjusted gross income from the prior tax year. Spillane further admitted that he set up email, pre-paid phone and bank accounts in these individuals’ names in order to collect the fraudulently obtained tax return money.

“A significant number of Americans handle nearly all of their business online, which means that the information they store digitally can be vulnerable,” said U.S. Attorney Williams. “Would-be thieves like this defendant demonstrate how quickly and easily personal information can be compromised. However, this case also demonstrates how quickly our Office and our law enforcement partners will respond; it was only a matter of weeks between the FBI receiving a tip and the day they knocked on the defendant’s door to execute a search warrant, stopping him in his tracks.”

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah M. Wolfe.

Source: U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Category: Education SectorHackID TheftU.S.

Post navigation

← St. Lucie’s County Drug Screening Lab notifying more than 14,500 people after discovering multi-year misconfiguration of web portal
Hacktivists Claim Ransomware Strike on Belarus Railway Intended to Disrupt Russian Forces →

Now more than ever

"Stand with Ukraine:" above raised hands. The illustration is in blue and yellow, the colors of Ukraine's flag.

Search

Browse by Categories

Recent Posts

  • Almost one year later, U.S. Dermatology Partners is still not being very transparent about their 2024 breach
  • Oklahoma Expands its Security Breach Notification Law
  • Ransomware group Gunra claims to have exfiltrated 450 million patient records from American Hospital Dubai.
  • North Shore University Sleep Disorders Center employee charged with secretly recording patients in restrooms
  • When ransomware listings create confusion as to who the victim was
  • Rajkot civic body’s GIS website hit by cyber attack, over 400 GB data feared stolen
  • Taiwan’s BitoPro hit by NT$345 million cryptocurrency hack
  • Texas gastroenterology and surgical practice victim of ransomware attack
  • Romanian Citizen Pleads Guilty to ‘Swatting’ Numerous Members of Congress, Churches, and Former U.S. President
  • North Dakota Enacts Financial Data Security and Data Breach Notification Requirements

No, You Can’t Buy a Post or an Interview

This site does not accept sponsored posts or link-back arrangements. Inquiries about either are ignored.

And despite what some trolls may try to claim: DataBreaches has never accepted even one dime to interview or report on anyone. Nor will DataBreaches ever pay anyone for data or to interview them.

Want to Get Our RSS Feed?

Grab it here:

https://databreaches.net/feed/

RSS Recent Posts on PogoWasRight.org

  • Florida ban on kids using social media likely unconstitutional, judge rules
  • State Data Minimization Laws Spark Compliance Uncertainty
  • Supreme Court Agrees to Clarify Emergency Situations Where Police Don’t Need Warrant
  • Stewart Baker vs. Orin Kerr on “The Digital Fourth Amendment”
  • Fears Grow Over ICE’s Reach Into Schools
  • Resource: HoganLovells Asia-Pacific Data, Privacy and Cybersecurity Guide 2025
  • She Got an Abortion. So A Texas Cop Used 83,000 Cameras to Track Her Down.

Have a News Tip?

Email: Tips[at]DataBreaches.net

Signal: +1 516-776-7756

Contact Me

Email: info[at]databreaches.net

Mastodon: Infosec.Exchange/@PogoWasRight

Signal: +1 516-776-7756

DMCA Concern: dmca[at]databreaches.net
© 2009 – 2025 DataBreaches.net and DataBreaches LLC. All rights reserved.