Former Baltimore Police Officer Pleads Guilty To Improperly Accessing A Protected Computer

Baltimore, Maryland – Former Baltimore Police officer Keith Nowlin, age 39, of Laurel, Maryland pleaded guilty today to accessing a protected computer without authorization, related to his obtaining motor vehicle information for a drug dealer.

The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Karl C. Colder of the Drug Enforcement Administration - Washington Field Division; and Commissioner Anthony W. Batts of the Baltimore Police Department.

According to his plea agreement, on June 18, 2010, Nowlin exchanged text messages with Marvin Mobley in which Mobley requested information on a specific motor vehicle.  At the time, Nowlin was a Baltimore Police officer assigned to the Northeast District and Mobley, whose phone was part of a court-ordered wiretap, was under investigation for drug trafficking.  In response to Mobley’s request, Nowlin responded “No problem anything for u.”  Nowlin, who was not on duty at the time, requested the information through a Baltimore Police sergeant, who regularly makes such inquiries on behalf of officers for law enforcement purposes.  The sergeant believed that Nowlin’s request was in furtherance of his police duties.  Later that day, Nowlin and Mobley exchanged text messages and Nowlin provided Mobley with the identity of the vehicle’s owner.  Nowlin improperly obtained the information using a protected computer network, which law enforcement agents are authorized to access for legitimate law enforcement purposes.

Nowlin faces a maximum sentence of one year in prison and a fine of $100,000.  U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar scheduled sentencing for August 1, 2013 at 2:00 p.m.

Marvin Mobley previously pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine and was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the DEA and Baltimore Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter J. Martinez, who is prosecuting the case.