Man pleads guilty to illegally accessing computer at MCC

A former religious services assistant at the federal Metropolitan Correctional Center downtown pleaded guilty Monday to illegally accessing government computers to get personal information about inmates.

Tommy Haire, 34, searched the MCC’s computer system without authorization to get sensitive personal information about prisoners in other facilities, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office. He then gave that information to inmates inside the MCC.

Haire’s computer searches revealed a lot of information about prisoners, such as their personal identification, sex offender status and location within the federal prison system, prosecutors said. Haire admitted the government could have proved such information would be valuable as a means for MCC inmates to extort other prisoners, steal identities or commit tax fraud.

According to the plea deal, Haire also mailed letters for inmates and allowed them to use his personal computer and cellphone in violation of MCC rules.

He pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of conversion of government property, which carries a maximum sentence of one year in prison and a fine of up to $100,000.

Haire is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 2.

— By Daniel Brown