Two More Plead Guilty in Patient Data Theft Case

ORLANDO—Sergei Kusyakov (38, Davenport) today pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy and four counts of wrongful disclosure of individually identifiable health information. Kusyakov faces a maximum penalty of 45 years in federal prison. Sentencing has been set for March 25, 2013.

On December 27, 2012, another conspirator, Katrina Munroe (30, Winter Haven) pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy. She faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. Sentencing for her has been set for March 11, 2013.

A third conspirator, Dale Munroe, II (35, Winter Haven), pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy and one count of wrongful disclosure of individually identifiable health information on October 22, 2012. He faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. His sentencing has been set for January 14, 2013.

According to their plea agreements, in July 2006, Dale Munroe, II was hired at the Celebration, Florida location of Florida Hospital. During his employment, he worked as a registration representative in the Emergency Department, where he would register patients as they came in the main emergency entrance. From January 2009 until his termination in July 2011, Dale Munroe, II used his position to obtain individually identifiable health information of Florida Hospital patients who had been involved in motor vehicle accidents. Munroe, II would then disclose that information to Kusyakov, who was involved in the operation of two chiropractic clinics (Metro Chiropractic and Wellness Center and City Lights Medical Center). Kusyakov and other conspirators would then use the stolen information to solicit patients of Florida Hospital for chiropractic and legal services. Kusyakov would then pay Munroe for his role in providing the stolen information.

On July 12, 2011, Dale Munroe, II was terminated by Florida Hospital for a patient data breach that was unrelated to the conspiracy described above. Starting about a week after her husband’s termination, Katrina Munroe, who was hired as an insurance representative by Florida Hospital in 2009, was recruited to take over her husband’s role of stealing patient data to be provided to Kusyakov. In August 2012, the data breach was discovered, and Florida Hospital terminated Katrina Munroe shortly after identifying her as a possible suspect. In total, Florida Hospital has identified more than 12,000 patients whose individually identifiable health information was illegally accessed as a part of the conspiracy.

These cases were investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Florida Department of Financial Services, Division of Insurance Fraud. They are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg.