CALIFORNIA COMPUTERS STOLEN FROM SAN JOSE MEDICAL GROUP Man Indicted for Theft of Medical Data

January 19, 2006
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The former manager of a San Jose, Calif., medical group was indicted on Thursday for stealing medical records for around 200,000 patients.

Joseph Nathaniel Harris of San Jose is accused of stealing computers and DVDs that included detailed medical histories for patients of the San Jose Medical Group in March.

Harris was indicted by a federal grand jury and could face 10 years in prison, according to a statement from Kevin Ryan, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California.

Harris was a branch manager at San Jose Medical Group. After resigning from the group, Harris is alleged to have broken back into the Group's administrative offices and made off with computer equipment, including a DVD with a record of clinic visits for around 200,000 patients.

The DVD included patient's names, addresses, phone numbers, dates of birth and social security numbers, the statement said.

FBI agents investigating the case subsequently found the DVD in Harris's car, and he was arrested on Jan. 3.

Harris is due to appear in court on Jan. 23. If convicted, he could face 10 years in prison and be forced to pay a $250,000 fine, the statement said.