http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/10/10/BA6VSN2NJ.DTL By John Cote, Chronicle Staff Writer October 10, 2007 SAN JOSE - A former branch manager at the San Jose Medical Group has been sentenced to almost two years in prison for stealing medical records for about 187,000 patients, federal prosecutors said today. Joseph Nathaniel Harris, 44, pleaded guilty in May to one count of health care-related theft after he stole computer equipment from his former employer, including a DVD that contained patients' names, Social Security numbers, medical diagnoses and other information, the U.S. attorney's office said. Harris was sentenced Friday in U.S. District Court in San Jose to 21 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Judge Jeremy Fogel also ordered him to pay $145,154 in restitution. Harris, now an Anaheim resident, was directed to begin his sentence Jan. 4. Harris worked as the branch manager of the San Jose Medical Group's McKee clinic at 227 Jackson Ave. in August and September 2004, court records said. During that time, "there were several incidents of reported theft of money and medications," according to an affidavit by FBI Agent Deborah Amrhein. "Because of these suspicions, (CEO Ernie) Wallerstein asked Harris to resign. ... Harris complied." On March 28, 2005, employees discovered computer equipment was missing from the medical group's administrative office, including a DVD with clinic visit entries and detailed information for 187,000 patients in the South Bay, prosecutors said. Harris kept the DVD but sold the stolen computer equipment, prosecutors said. FBI agents later found the DVD in Harris' car. He was charged in January 2006 with the theft. During his employment at the medical group, Harris "bragged to fellow employees of his experience as a Green Beret, in military security and about his side business selling used computers," Amrhein wrote in the affidavit. After Harris resigned, there were six burglaries at three San Jose Medical Group offices. Amrhein also reported that Harris had been fired from a 2003 job at the Silicon Valley Children's Fund for conducting personal business, including selling computers on Craigslist, on company time. After he was fired from that job, there was a burglary at the Children's Fund offices and two computers were stolen, according to court documents. __________________________________________________________________ CSI 2007 is the only conference that delivers a business-focused overview of enterprise security. It will convene 1,500+ delegates, 80 exhibitors and features 100+ sessions/seminars providing a roadmap for integrating policies and procedures with new tools and techniques. Register now for savings on conference fees and/or free exhibits admission. - www.csiannual.com
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