Former Cox Employee Gets Jail Time for Computer Hacking
William Bryant Sentenced to Five Months in Prison for Intentionally Damaging Cox Network
By Linda Haugsted -- Multichannel News, 1/11/2008 12:22:00 PM
A former Cox Cable employee has been sentenced in U.S. District Court in Atlanta to five months in prison plus restitution for a computer hacking incident that shut down the provider’s services in three states.
The former employee, William Bryant, 38, of Norcross, Ga. intentionally damaged the telecommunications company’s computer network earlier this year after he was asked to resign his position, according to U.S. Attorney David Nahmias of the Northern District of Georgia.
Bryant remotely shut down portions of the company’s system, resulting in the loss of Internet and telephone services, including 911 emergency access, in systems in Texas, Las Vegas, New Orleans and Baton Rouge, according to prosecutors.
Bryan pleaded guilty to a charge of computer hacking on Sept. 26, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
In addition to the prison time, Bryant will serve five months of home confinement, followed by two years of supervised release. He must perform 200 hours of community service and pay $15,470 in restitution.
