[Dataloss] ID theft in Oklahoma City (jun 2007 to Aug 2007)

[Henry Brown]

http://www.kten.com/global/story.asp?s=7914206

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Federal prosecutors have accused an Oklahoma City 
woman of violating a federal health privacy law as part of an identity 
theft scheme.

An indictment alleges Leslie A. Howell violated the Health Insurance 
Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA).

U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma spokesman Bob 
Troester says the Feb. 15 indictment was the first in the district for 
violating HIPAA.

According to the indictment, Howell disclosed "personally identifiable 
health information" to two people from June to August, knowing they 
would use it to commit "access device fraud" and identity theft.

Troester said the records came from a counseling center, but he wouldn't 
say which one.

He says all the patient information that was disclosed has been 
retrieved, and all the victims have been or will be notified.

Howell is accused of providing more than 100 patient files to the pair, 
but Troester declined to identify them.