Thomas A. Wotring, who is known in the online marketing industry as a merchant account provider, has been arrested by the FBI’s Cyber Task Force after he was indicted by a federal grand jury on computer crimes charges.
According to the FBI’s Jackson office, Wotring was arrested at a business on Martin Bluff Road in Gautier, with assistance from the Gautier Police Department. According to his Facebook page, Wotring is a graduate of Gautier High School.
The indictment accuses Wotring of accessing a protected computer on or about July 11, 2012, without authorization. He used information from the computer for his own commercial advantage and private financial gain, in violation of Title 18 of U.S. Code.
The computer-fraud case appears similar to a civil lawsuit filed against Wotring in federal court Aug. 21, 2012, by SND Holdings LLC of New Mexico and AM Community Net Inc. of Georgia.
AM Computing had hired Wotring as a consultant in 2011 to handle credit-card processing services, which gave him access to customer information for both businesses, according to the lawsuit.
The firm fired him in June 2012, and he received a $2,500 severance pay for signing a confidentiality agreement.
On July 11, 2012, an AM employee noticed an export request for data and realized someone had downloaded the businesses’ database of customer transactions.
“The FBI’s Cyber Task Force program enhances collaboration and integrates operations among the partner agencies against cyber terrorists,” said FBI Special Agent Donald Alway, “who aim to exploit vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure control systems, and against financially-motivated criminals, who steal money, identities, and intellectual trade secrets.
“By joining together, these federal, state, and local agencies serve as an effective deterrent to cyber criminals.”
Wotring made his initial appearance in front of U.S. Magistrate Robert H. Walker on April 9. He was released on $25,000 bond and his trial is set to begin May 11 in Gulfport. According to the FBI, the Cyber Task Force is made up of FBI Special Agents and Task Force Officers from the Mississippi Office of Attorney General, the Mississippi Office of Homeland Security, and the Madison Police Department.
