Checked for Information on her Drug-Dealing Co-Conspirators
GREENBELT, Md. (Oct. 27, 2009) - Tanya E. Perry, age 30, of Waldorf, Maryland, pleaded guilty on Oct. 20 to conspiracy to unlawfully access the Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Information System (NADDIS) to obtain information to benefit her co-conspirators, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein.
According to Perry’s plea agreement, she worked as a data entry clerk for contractors providing data entry services for NADDIS. All records in NADDIS are protected from unauthorized access through administrative, physical and technical safeguards. Data contained in the system is gathered from investigations conducted by Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Field Offices and provided by international, federal, state and local criminal justice agencies. As part of her employment, Perry was required to undergo computer awareness training, a background investigation, and to sign an agreement that she would not access NADDIS for any purpose other than to input records submitted by law enforcement agencies.
According to her plea agreement, during at least 2004 and 2005, while Perry was a data entry clerk for NADDIS, her co-conspirators, including Jesse Johnson, were involved in the illegal distribution of drugs. On at least six occasions between 2003 and 2005, Perry queried the NADDIS system for information relating to a co-conspirator. On August 27, 2004, Perry queried the NADDIS system for information relating to both Johnson and another co-conspirator and soon thereafter relayed investigative information she obtained from the NADDIS system to her co-conspirators, including that a GPS tracking system that had been placed on Johnson’s car. Due to Perry’s release of investigative information law enforcement was forced to prematurely execute two search warrants at locations used by Johnson. As a result of the search, law enforcement recovered a gun, $56,000, two digital scales and other drug paraphernalia, approximately eight empty kilogram wrappers with cocaine residue and a bulletproof vest. Johnson was convicted and sentenced in November 2007, to 11 ½ years in prison, but no other members of the drug organization were arrested or charged. Perry again queried NADDIS for information about her co-conspirators four days after the execution of the search warrants.
Perry faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison. U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow has scheduled sentencing for February 1, 2010 at 3:30 p.m.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein thanked the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Prince George’s County Police Department for their investigative work. Mr. Rosenstein commended Assistant United States Attorney Sandra Wilkinson, who is prosecuting the case.
Source: U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Maryland