SACRAMENTO —
A former FOX40 employee was found guilty Wednesday afternoon on three federal charges related to the hacking of the L.A. Times website along with other computer crimes involving this station.
The jury found Matthew Keys guilty of unauthorized changes to Tribune’s web sites, damaging computer systems and transmitting malicious code.
In 2010, Matthew Keys was fired as a web producer from FOX40. At the time, the L.A. Times and FOX40 were both owned by Tribune.
Keys shared the log in information for the newspaper’s website with the hacker group Anonymous, who then changed the headline of an article.
Prosecutors said Keys also changed FOX40’s computer passwords and interfered with the station’s ability to access servers and sent disparaging emails to station viewers.
“This case demonstrates the FBI’s commitment identify and investigate those who harass former employers by using insider knowledge to exploit computer systems,” said Monica Miller with the FBI’s Sacramento field office.
Outside of court Wednesday, Keys said he’s disappointed with the verdict.
“It’s disappointing that the full story didn’t come out. It’s disappointing that certain facts were manipulated, that certain evidence was manipulated and edited. I think had the full story come out, there would have been a very different answer in this case” Keys said.
A Tribune Media Company spokesman said this afternoon, “We are pleased that the justice system worked. We will let today’s verdict speak for itself.”
The 28-year-old faces up to 25 years in federal prison. Sentencing is set for January 20.
Keys’ attorney said they plan to appeal.
