Attorney Vikas Dhar was quoted in the Worcester Telegram & Gazette, in an email, in which he said his client, Mr. Edmonds-Morin, “was very remorseful in this case, and we appreciate Judge Guzman taking that into consideration […] I believe that the court awarded him a well-deserved, earned second chance.”
Patrick Edmonds-Morin pleaded guilty in June 2023 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to access a protected computer to obtain information. His accused co-conspirator Nathan Howe pleaded guilty in October to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, three counts of wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to access a protected computer to obtain information and cause damage, in addition to one count of intentionally causing damage to a protected computer and impairing medical treatment. Mr. Howe was sentenced to three years of supervised release with one year of home confinement, after the government asked for 21 months in prison. Neither of the men had prior criminal records.
Patrick Edmonds-Morin and Nathan Howe were former employees at Spectrum IT. They admitted to accessing Spectrum Health System’s computer systems and selling cellphones intended for staff members. The pair ordered over 300 iPhones through Spectrum, which they then sold for profit, earning more than $100,000. These phones were outdated models, provided by Verizon to the nonprofit for about $1 each. Howe also interrupted Spectrum’s computer network, which resulted in a temporary outage. Howe’s defense attorney explained that these actions were a series of “pranks” designed to target a former supervisor with whom Howe had a feud, and Howe had used the profits from the cellphones to support his family rather than for personal enrichment.
Edmonds-Morin read an apology letter in court in which he said that his actions cause daily anguish and that he apologized from the depths of his soul.
Wire fraud, which involves using telecommunications or the internet to defraud others, and computer hacking, which includes unauthorized access to protected systems, are federal crimes with serious punishments. Wire fraud can result in up to 20 years in prison. Computer hacking, including accessing a protected computer to obtain information, can lead to federal prison sentences of up to 10 or 20 years, depending on the charge.
If you find yourself accused of federal crimes like computer fraud or wire fraud, it’s imperative to reach out to an experienced criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. At the law firm of Dhar Law, LLP, our experienced team is proud to defend the constitutional rights of our clients in court, doing our part to ensure that every individual facing a criminal conviction receives a fair trial and robust defense. Please contact a member of the experienced Boston wire fraud criminal defense team at Dhar Law LLP at (617) 880-6155 to learn more.
