United States Coast Guard Member Sentenced for Unauthorized Access of a Government Computer and Dissemination of Confidential Data

(Norfolk, VA) – Morris Wade Hughes, age 51, of Chesapeake Virginia, was sentenced in federal court today. Hughes received 9 months incarceration, 1 year of probation, which includes 5 months of home confinement and a $2000 fine. Dana Boente, Acting United States Attorney of the Eastern District of Virginia; Alex J. Turner, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Norfolk Field Division; and LT Gene Maestas, of the Fifth Coast Guard District, made the announcement.

Hughes was convicted at trial of unauthorized access of his government computer and dissemination of confidential information. The confidential information was contained in a U.S. Coast Guard law enforcement database and contained in a National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Association database. The information was conveyed to Yvonne Peabody, an officer of the Peabody Corporation, a commercial fishing company located in Newport News. According to court documents, Peabody Corporation employed at least 126 illegal aliens on 332 of their commercial fishing voyages between 2003 and 2006. The illegal aliens used fraudulent social security cards in connection with their employment. Peabody Corporation vessels were boarded by the Coast Guard on several occasions and fraudulent identification documents were seized.

This case was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation, with the assistance of the Coast Guard Investigative Service. Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph DePadilla prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

###