Computer Hacker Indicted for
Accessing Department of Education Network

Little Rock - Jane W. Duke, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced today the indictment of 24-year-old Christian Joneleit. Joneleit, a German citizen residing in Coconut Creek, Florida, was indicted on one count of causing damage to a protected computer belonging to the Arkansas Department of Education (“ADE”) and one count of possessing fifteen or more access devices. The access devices Joneleit is accused of possessing consisted of computer user identifications and passwords he obtained from hacking the ADE system. Joneleit is alleged to have accessed the ADE network from his computer in Florida, causing ADE to sustain more than $5,000 in damages.

The penalty for causing damage to a protected computer is not more than 5 years imprisonment. The penalty for possession of fifteen or more access devices is not more than 10 years imprisonment. Both offenses carry a fine potential of up to $250,000.

Acting United States Attorney Jane Duke stated, “In the computer age, ‘breaking and entering’ has taken on a whole new meaning. There are varying motivations behind hacking incidents---identity theft, marketplace advantage and bragging rights---to name a few. It appears that Mr. Joneleit was accessing this particular system for its storage capacity. He was actually storing his own movie files on the ADE network. However, even when there has been no download or theft of data, such intrusions are still extremely costly and disruptive.” Duke added that the investigation thus far has not revealed any access or download of personal identification information.

This matter was investigated by agents with the Little Rock Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney George Vena is handling the prosecution of this case. An indictment is only an allegation of wrongdoing based on probable cause. A defendant is presumed innocent until such time as he is adjudged guilty either by plea or jury verdict.