Former IT Official Pleads Guilty to Intercepting Mayor's Emails

Former IT official Patrick Ricciardi plead guilty to intercepting emails meant for the mayor of Hoboken and top city officials and passing some of those communications on to other officials, according to a statement from U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman.

"Ricciardi admitted he used his access to set up the email accounts of the mayor and two of the mayor’s top lieutenants so all of their incoming and sent emails would be sent to the archive folder," Fishman said. 

Ricciardi was charged in November 2011 in a federal criminal complaint with one count each of accessing a computer without authorization, interception of wire and electronic communications, and disclosure of intercepted wire and electronic communications.

He also admitted that he read some of the emails in order to spy on the mayor and her assistants, and forwarded them to other current and former city officials.

According to court testimony by Ricciardi's former assistant, Jonathan Cummins, those officials were identified as former public safety director Angel Alicea and current Fire Chief Richard Blohm.

Through the complaint and it became clear that in April 2011, Ricciardi created an archive file on his work computer to intercept and store all emails sent to and from the mayor and certain of the mayor’s employees. 

Ricciardi is scheduled to be sentenced on July 1, 2013.