Former FBI Agent Pleads Guilty to Obstruction of Justice
Defendant Admits She Provided Confidential Law Enforcement Information To A Subject Of A Federal Grand Jury Investigation
ROSLYNN R. MAUSKOPF, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and JOHN A. KLOCHAN, Acting Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office, announced that LYNN WINGATE, a former Special Agent of Federal Bureau of Investigation, pleaded guilty this afternoon to obstruction of justice in connection with her role in interfering with a grand jury's investigation relating to Amr "Anthony" Elgindy and former FBI Agent Jeffrey A. Royer by accessing the FBI's confidential law enforcement computer system and then relaying pertinent confidential information to Royer, who was one of the subjects of the investigation.
In January 2005, Royer and Elgindy were convicted of racketeering, securities fraud and other crimes in connection with their scheme to steal confidential law enforcement information relating to FBI and Securities and Exchange Commission investigations of various companies, which they used to trade in the stock of those companies and make millions of dollars in the financial markets. Royer was also convicted of obstruction of justice, conspiracy to obstruct justice and witness tampering in connection with the federal grand jury investigation.1
In her plea today, WINGATE admitted that in 2002, while working as a Special Agent in the FBI's Albuquerque, New Mexico, Field Office, she was involved in a personal relationship with Royer, who had resigned as an FBI agent and was employed by Elgindy. WINGATE also admitted that in April 2002, she accessed the FBI's confidential computer system and reviewed investigative information relating to the investigation of Elgindy and others in the Eastern District of New York. WINGATE further admitted that she advised Royer that his name was included within the investigative files. WINGATE acknowledged that she provided this information to Royer so that he would sever his association with Elgindy and thereby avoid further investigation and possible prosecution.
"Today's guilty plea demonstrates the commitment of this office and the FBI to pursue and prosecute anyone who abuses a position of trust as a law enforcement officer to aid or protect those involved in criminal activity," stated United States Attorney MAUSKOPF. "LYNN WINGATE breached the public trust -- she was sworn to use the FBI's resources to expose criminal activity, not conceal it." Ms. MAUSKOPF expressed her grateful appreciation to the Securities and Exchange Commission, Northeast Regional Office, for its assistance in the investigation.
The guilty plea proceedings were held before United States District Judge Raymond J. Dearie at the United States Courthouse in Brooklyn. Under the terms of her plea agreement with the government, when sentenced by Judge Dearie on September 30, 2005, WINGATE faces a maximum sentence of 10 years' imprisonment, a fine of $250,000, and three years of supervised release.
The government's case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Seth L. Levine and Amy L. Walsh, and Special Assistant United States Attorney Valerie A. Szczepanik, Senior Trial Attorney, Securities and Exchange Commission
The Defendant:
LYNN WINGATE
DOB: 4/25/68
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1 WINGATE is the seventh defendant convicted as part of this investigation. In addition to WINGATE, Elgindy and Royer, Derrick Cleveland was convicted of racketeering, and Robert Hanson, Donald Kent Terrell, and Jonathan Daws were convicted of conspiracy to commit securities fraud.
