NYPD Detective Pleads Guilty to Computer Hacking
An NYPD Detective has pleaded guilty to computer hacking after breaking into e-mail accounts and accessing a federal database without authorization.

According to NBC News, Edwin Vargas paid over $4,000 to gain access to the login information for 30 different e-mail accounts. Federal prosecutors say that 20 of those accounts belonged to fellow members of the NYPD.

Vargas, 42, was able to access at least one of the accounts. He was also able to access the National Crime Information Center database and find information about two other NYPD officers.

Vargas is a 20-year veteran of the NYPD. His lawyer stated that he would like to put the incident behind him. He will be sentenced in March.

[Source: NBS News]

Man Arrested for 25 Break-Ins
Following a string of robberies in eastern Long Island, 22-year-old Justin Bennett has been arrested and is facing 27 criminal charges including 25 counts of 2nd Degree Burglary.

According to a press release from the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office, Bennett is a heroin addict. On top of the burglary charges, he is also facing one count of 2nd Degree Attempted Burglary and one count of 3rd Degree Attempted Burglary.

“As the indictment details, the defendant over the first ten months of this year burglarized 25 homes in East Hampton, Southampton and Sag Harbor,” District Attorney Thomas Spota said.

One of the robbery victims caught Bennett in the act and later was able to identify him to police. Bennett admitted to all 25 robberies to police, however he has pleaded not guilty.

Bennett faces a maximum sentence of up to 15 years in jail for each burglary. Due to his heroin addiction, Spota is considering him a flight risk and has set his bail at $200,000.

[Source: Suffolk County District Attorney]