Sutherland Woman Convicted for Trafficking in a Password or Other Similar Information

Acting United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Lacie Brown, 21, of Sutherland, Nebraska, was sentenced today in Lincoln, Nebraska, by Senior United States District Judge John M. Gerrard for trafficking in a password or other similar information. Brown was sentenced to one year of probation. There is no parole in the federal system.

On July 21, 2021, UNL-PD received a complaint concerning student loan fraud.  Victim 1 reported that he was contacted by a loan services company after a third loan attempt was denied. He was completely unaware of the first two loans which were already dispersed.  Victim 1 was notified that in all three incidents he was marked down as the co-signer and the primary signer was Lacie Brown. 

Through subsequent investigation it was determined that Brown used Victim 1’s Social Security Number and date of birth on the student loan applications listing Victim 1 as a co-signer and subsequently creating a login on his behalf and signing on his behalf as well. Victim 1 is a relative of Brown’s and there was no evidence Victim 1’s information was illegally acquired by Brown.

This case was investigated by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Police Department and the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office.