Former FBI Agent Gets Probation for Unauthorized Data Access
contributed by SANS NewBites Vol.11 Num 38

Former FBI agent Mark Rossini was sentenced to one year of probation for
using agency computers to search for information about a Hollywood
wiretapping case in which he was not involved. Rossini admitted that
he gave the information to a woman he was dating who then gave it to an
attorney for Anthony Pellicano, a private investigator who is presently
serving a 15-year sentence for wiretapping celebrities' phones for
clients. Rossini pleaded guilty to five counts of criminal computer
access late last year. He also faces fines amounting to US $5,000.
http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20090514_8408.php
[Editor's Note (Northcutt): The problem with a hand-slap type sentence
at a time when the government is increasing access to private data about
citizens, is that it sends the wrong signal. It needs to be clear that
abusing lawful access is wrong. And the government needs to implement
role-based access control. Far too often, if you have access, you have
access to everything.]