NEW YORK (AP) — A Texas man has been arrested on charges he stole customer information from a networking services company in the oil and gas industry that he once sold for $51 million.
David W. Kent was charged with computer hacking and wire fraud in Manhattan federal court. The Spring, Texas man was arrested Wednesday in Texas. He was awaiting a court appearance. His lawyer did not immediately return a request for comment.
Authorities said Kent started a new company after selling his 10-year-old networking services company in 2010 for $51 million.
Diego Rodriquez, head of the FBI’s New York office, said he illegally accessed data from his former business to help benefit a competing business he formed after the sale.
Authorities say he stole information from over 700,000 customer accounts.