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Fifth passport peeker charged
By: Freeman Klopott Examiner Staff Writer

August 10, 2009
A former State Department employee has become the fifth person charged witih illegally accessing the confidential passport information of elected officials and celebrities.

Karal Busch has been charged with the unauthorized access of passport files related to "various celebrities and their families, actors, professional athletes, musicians, models and other individuals identified in the press," court documents filed in the District's federal court said. No attorney information for Busch was listed in court records.

Among the "individuals identified in the press" were then presidential candidates John McCain, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. The Justice Department launched an investigation into the passport office in spring 2008, after allegations surfaced that the passport files of nearly 130 celebrities had been breached.

The State Department inspector general later blasted the department for failing to build proper protection into the system. An inspector general report found "many control weaknesses -- including a general lack of policies, procedures, guidance, and training -- related to the prevention and detection of unauthorized access to passport and applicant information."

The report suggested the department follow privacy procedures already used by the Social Security Administration and the Internal Revenue Service. Busch is accused of peeking at passport applications, which according to the Department of Justice contain the applicant's full name, and date and place of birth.

The applications also list telephone numbers, parent information, spouse's name, and emergency contact information. Court records do not indicate when Busch is expected to enter a plea. Last month, William Celey, 27, pleaded guilty to the same charge. Celey was a contract employee and worked as a file assistant from August 2003 and July 2004. While Celey is still awaiting sentencing, which is scheduled for October, three others have already received probation, fines and community service.

Lawrence Yontz, a former foreign service officer and intelligence analyst, illegally accessed nearly 200 passport files. Yontz was sentenced to one year probation and 50 hours of community service. Dwayne F. Cross, a former administrative assistant, illegally accessed more than 150 files, and was sentenced to one year probation and 100 hours of community service. Gerald Lueders, a former foreign service officer, illegally accessed 50 files and was sentenced to one year probation and ordered to pay a $5,000 fine. fklopott@washingtonexaminer.com