In US cybersecurity scandal, Indian duo sentenced for data theft
Washington: In yet another embarrassment to India, its two citizens have been sentenced by a US court for their involvement in a conspiracy to steal sensitive data from the US government.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Murali Y Venkata, 58, and Sonal Patel, 49, former federal employees, were convicted for stealing proprietary software and databases containing sensitive law enforcement information and personally identifying information (PII) of over 200,000 federal employees.
Venkata, a resident of Aldie, Virginia, and Patel, from Sterling, Virginia, were sentenced to four months in prison and two years of probation with one year of home incarceration, along with a $40,000 fine, respectively.
The duo, along with Charles Edwards, 63, who served as the Acting Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General, conspired to create a commercial software product using the stolen data for sale to government agencies. As part of their plan, they shared the stolen information, including PII, with software developers in India.
This case underscores the international dimension of data theft, with Indian citizens actively participating in the illicit acquisition of sensitive US government information. It serves as a reminder of the critical need for cybersecurity measures to prevent unauthorized access and misuse of confidential data.
The sentencing reflects the gravity of such offenses and the commitment to holding individuals accountable for compromising national security through cybercrimes.
