After being fired, a Cobb County woman allegedly logged in to her former company’s website, modified the posting for her old job, and sent emails to job seekers, federal court documents show.
Annette Kendrick, 40, of Marietta, was indicted Monday on a computer intrusion charge and could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted, according the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of New York.
In April, an energy company called Iberdrola, headquartered in Rochester, N.Y, notified the FBI that it had been the possible victim of computer intrusion, according to the criminal complaint, obtained by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
“On April 4, 2013, someone with valid Iberdrola credentials logged into Iberdrola’s computerized job application system, modified a job posting, modified questions on the posting, sent emails to agencies about the posting, and sent emails to job applicants saying they were no longer being considered for the position,” the complaint states.
With the help of AT&T investigators, Iberdrola officials linked the computer intrusion to the IP address of a computer assigned to Sutter Health, a company in Sacramento, Calif., FBI Special Agent Barry Couch wrote in the complaint. The job posting altered was for a Director of Talent Management, Diversity and Inclusion — Kendrick’s former job, company officials told the FBI.
“If you are searching for an INNOVATIVE, LONG STANDING, ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE organization to work for …GO (expletive) YOURSELF,’” the job posting read after the alleged intrusion.
Iberdrola leaders told the FBI that the intrusion was of particular concern because the person responsible would have access to personal information of employers and customers. The company said it contacted and is paying for a year of credit protection for those possibly affected.
In June, a company named Accenture told the FBI that in April, Kendrick was employed and assigned to a project with Sutter Health in Sacramento. Three days later, investigators interviewed Kendrick at the Atlanta airport when she was returning from California.
Kendrick initially denied any involvement with the computer intrusion, the criminal warrant states. She later admitted her involvement, Couch wrote.
“I may have hit a button,” Kendrick allegedly said.
After more question, Kendrick confessed, the complaint states. “I did it. I admit it. I did it.” Kendrick said, according to the FBI.
Kendrick then showed an investigator a document on her company laptop with wording that matched the changes made in the Iberdrola online post. She was arrested July 13.
Kendrick’s next court appearance is scheduled for Sept. 12.
About the Author
