FBI Arrests Man Who Allegedly Hacked EPISD’s Computer System
United States Attorney Robert Pitman and FBI Special Agent in Charge Mark Morgan announced the arrest Thursday morning of 20-year-old Kaleb Harper Ketchens of Meridian, MS, in connection with an unauthorized access of the El Paso Independent School District computer system.
On March 28, 2012, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Ketchens with two counts of computer fraud and one count of fraud and related activity in connection with identification documents, authentication features and information.
According to authorities, on or about August 29, 2011, Ketchens illegally accessed the school district’s computer system and without lawful authority obtained the means of identification of another person, that is names and student identification numbers, then displayed that information on an Internet website.
“This indictment and arrest demonstrates the FBI’s resolve to vigorously investigate criminal computer intrusions in the El Paso Community. Through the cooperative efforts of the EPISD Police Department, the US Attorney’s Office and the FBI Jackson, MS Division, the FBI El Paso Division was able to aggressively pursue investigative leads which led to the arrest of our subject today,” Special Agent in Charge Mark Morgan said in a news release.
If convicted, Ketchens faces up to five years in federal prison per count. During his initial appearance on Thursday in U.S. Magistrate Court in Meridian Ketchens was released on a $10,000 unsecured bond. Ketchens was ordered to appear on April 19, 2012, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Norbert Garney in El Paso for his arraignment.
