03242014 - News Article - FBI taps into Porter County computers

FBI taps into Porter County computers
NWI Times
March 24, 2014
http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/porter/fbi-taps-into-porter-county-computers/article_6d0c1185-595b-50bc-ad98-a547d992fbcf.html

VALPARAISO | FBI agents downloaded computer information Monday as part of their ongoing investigation into county government.

Four agents spent several hours at the county's information technologies department during the late morning downloading data files from the county server to an external hard drive they brought, said department Director Sharon Lippens.

Lippens did not know exactly what information was targeted by the agents.

The FBI declined comment when contacted Monday afternoon.

Plan Commission Executive Director Robert Thompson, who also confirmed the presence of the FBI at the county administration center Monday, has had agents visit his office multiple times recently.

Thompson said neither he, nor to his knowledge anyone he supervises, have done anything inappropriate.

"I am fully cooperating with law enforcement authorities," he said.

Thompson declined further comment to avoid impeding the investigation.

FBI agents have made numerous visits to county government during the last several months.

Agents were at the IT department last week seeking information about models and makes of computer servers used by the county, Lippens had said.

Agents have also appeared at the plan commission office seeking copies of building permits for the new Porter Regional Hospital and the nearby medical office building at Ind. 49 and U.S. 6.

Thompson has said his office is unable to locate the original building permits for those two buildings.

The FBI has also visited the county highway department, where agents sought records of materials purchased by the Porter County Board of Commissioners in a competitive bidding process in 2010 and 2011.

Porter County Clerk Karen Martin said in December an FBI agent showed up at her office seeking copies of conflict of interest disclosure forms designed to reveal a public servant's financial interest in contracts or purchases involving their government offices.

The FBI also took possession late last year of records related to the county commissioners' decision Dec. 18, 2012, to switch the provider of wellness and clinic service for county employees from HealtheACCESS to Porter Regional Hospital's CareEXPRESS