State Dept. Worker Pleads To Peaking At Passports

By Allan Lengel

ticklethewire.com

WASHINGTON — A former State Department employee pleaded guilty Monday to illegally accessing  hundreds of confidential passport applications of celebrities, athletes and game show contestants, the Justice Department said.

Lawrence C. Yontz, 48, of Arlington, Va,  pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to one count of unauthorized access, the Justice Department said.  Sentencing is set for Dec. 19. He could face up to one year in prison and a $100,000 fine.

Yontz admitted between February 2005 and March 2008 that he logged into the Passport Information Electronic Records System, which contains passport applications dating back to 1994, authorities said.

In all, he looked at passport information of about 200 celebrities, athletes, actors, politicians, musicians, game show contestants and media members, the Justice Department said.

Posted: 9/22/08 at 11:13 PM under News Story.