Feds charge Cleveland Public Power employee who is accused of installing keyloggers on CPP computers – cleveland.com
A Cleveland Public Power employee was charged in connection with an investigation into the installation of devices known as keyloggers on two CPP computers.
CLEVELAND, Ohio — A Cleveland Public Power employee is accused of trying to gain information from the utility’s computers and lying to the FBI.
John Pelton, the utility’s chief electric transmission operator, was charged in federal court in Cleveland with attempting to access a protected computer and obtain information and lying to investigators.
Pelton, 54, of Avon Lake, was charged in a bill of information, meaning he waived his rights to have a grand jury hear the case. That typically happens when someone accused of a crime intends to plead guilty to charges.
Cleveland Public Power spokeswoman Shelly Shockley refused to say if Pelton was still an employee or answer any questions about the incident.
City spokeswomen Sarah Johnson and Marie Zickefoose did not respond to questions about the circumstances of the incident or Pelton’s employment status.
Pelton’s attorney Michael Goldberg said in an email that Pelton harmed no one and took responsibility for his actions.
“Mr. Pelton put a device on a computer to save him time and effort to do his job,” Goldberg said. “Not to disrupt service, not for gain or profit or any wrongful [purpose].”
Pelton in early 2021 bought two keyloggers, devices that surreptitiously record every time someone hits a button on a particular computer, according to court records. The devices are often used to record people typing in usernames and passwords.
Pelton installed the keyloggers on two CPP computers, court records say. No other information was immediately released, including if Pelton stole any information.
U.S. attorney’s office spokesman Dan Ball said prosecutors are working out a plea agreement in the case and couldn’t release more information.
Pelton was hired by the city in 2017 and made nearly $91,000 a year, according to city records.
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