Pennsylvania Man Charged With Hacking Gas Company's Computers

PHILADELPHIA - Marc Fox, 44, of Shoemakersville, Pennsylvania, was charged today by Information with one count of intentionally causing damage to a computer, announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger.  The Information alleges that between September 11, 2015 and October 2, 2015, Fox sent unauthorized commands to a computer owned by UGI Utilities, Inc., a company that supplies natural gas to customers in Pennsylvania. The Information alleges that by sending these unauthorized commands, Fox intentionally changed the passwords and permissions for certain accounts on UGI’s computers.  It is further alleged that Fox then sent commands to a UGI computer that caused the rerouting of emergency calls to UGI during certain time periods so that these emergency calls were not directed to the proper UGI telephone representatives, thus delaying the response to these high priority calls. The Information alleges that Fox’s computer intrusions caused more than $5,000 in damage and caused a threat to public safety. 

If convicted the defendant faces a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, a possible fine, restitution to UGI, and a $100 special assessment.    

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Albert S. Glenn.

An Information is an accusation.  A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.