In this episode, retired agent Brian Herrick and retired Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Michael Levy review the computer hacking investigation and prosecution of former Philadelphia CBS affiliate news anchor Larry Mendte who hacked into the email accounts of his co-anchor Alycia Lane and leaked private information about her to the media. Mendte was charged with intentionally accessing a protected computer without authorization. It was a major scandal closely followed by the Philadelphia news media and the public.
Special Agent (Retired)
Brian Herrick
12/2002 – 12/2022
Brian Herrick served in the FBI for 20 years. Prior to his law enforcement career, Brian was Director of Information Technology at a Silicon Valley-based software and consulting services firm, and a support engineer for Deloitte Consulting.
Early in his Bureau career, he led a computer intrusion task force, was an FBI CART Digital Forensic Examiner and conducted technical and investigative training as a police instructor.
Brian also worked extensively with global partners through the FBI’s International Task Force. He was an Assistant Legal Attaché (ALAT) based in Frankfurt, Germany, where he worked computer intrusion and child sexual exploitation matters with German law enforcement partners.
Later in his career, he was promoted to a supervisory position at FBI Headquarters, where he led the FBI’s Violent Crimes Against Children and Human Trafficking section. He focused on the development and adoption of technology solutions to address critical threats to vulnerable populations. Prior to his retirement, Brian was an Assistant Special Agent in Charge (ASAC) in the Philadelphia field office.
Since 2001, Brian has taught digital crime investigation at West Chester University of Pennsylvania as an adjunct professor of criminal justice. He holds graduate degrees in cybersecurity, business technology and criminal justice administration.
Currently, Brian serves as vice president of Child Victim Identification for Thorn. Thorn’s mission is to transform how children are protected from sexual abuse and exploitation in the digital age. Brian’s role is to help Thorn achieve that mission by partnering with investigators and driving adoption of Thorn-developed, victim-centered solutions with key partners, while contributing to the child safety ecosystem.
Prior to his role at Thorn, Brian was Senior Director of Information Security at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), where he led cyber defense and investigative efforts.
Assistant U.S. Attorney (Retired)
Michael Levy
9/1990 – 8/2019
Michael Levy graduated from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 1969. In the 1970s, he worked as a public defender, an assistant district attorney, and had his own law practice.
In 1980, he joined the United States Attorney’s Office in Philadelphia, PA, where he prosecuted tax, fraud, labor racketeering, organized crime, and drug cases.
He served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney(AUSA), Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division, First Assistant U.S. Attorney, and interim United States Attorney (twice) for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania (EDPA). In 2001, he became the Chief of Computer Crimes.
He retired in 2019. He continues to teach Cybercrime and Evidence at the University of Pennsylvania Law School.
The following are news articles and court documents about the Larry Mendte computer hacking case:
The Gainesville Sun – 12/17/2007: Anchor arrested for punching cop
USA vs. Larry Mendte Information
6ABC – 7/21/2008: Philadelphia Newscaster Charged in E-mail Scandal
NBC News – 8/22/2008: Fired Philly TV anchor admits hacking e-mail
The Guardian – 11/25/2008: US news anchor sentenced for snooping into co-host’s email
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