In what prosecutors are calling the first case of its kind, aformer claim manager in California has been charged with plantingan electronic bugging device on a computer at an insurance company.Larry Lee Ropp allegedly installed a device called a Key Katcherthat recorded every keystroke made on a computer that was used by asecretary to the vice president of Bristol West InsuranceGroup/Coast National Insurance Co., where Ropp was employed. Afterhis termination from the company in September 2003, Ropp calledanother Bristol employee asking that she remove the device,according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Los Angeles.
|During interviews with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Roppadmitted using the device, but claimed that he was a whistle blowerfor the California Department of Insurance, according to Reuters.The CDI denied employing Ropp in that capacity. Althoughprosecutors did not say what motivated Ropp, an affidavit filedwith the indictment suggests that he intended to supply informationto attorneys representing a class of people who were suing thecompany.
|Ropp is charged with a single count of wiretapping, whichcarries a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison.
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