Ex-investigators for HP sentenced in fraud case - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

Two former private investigators have each been sentenced to three years of probation after authorities said they used false identities to access Social Security numbers and other information on Hewlett-Packard board members, employees and journalists.

A federal judge also sentenced Joseph DePante and his son, Matthew DePante, to six months of electronic home monitoring as part of a plea deal after both pleaded guilty in February to conspiracy to commit Social Security fraud.

Both men expressed remorse at their sentencing.

However, journalist Dawn Kawamoto said she was victimized and told the judge the defendants should receive more stringent sentences.

Federal prosecutors said HP had hired the Florida-based firm to track down who was leaking boardroom information to journalists in 2005.

The men were accused of directing other investigators posing as account holders or employees of phone companies to illegally obtain phone numbers, Social Security numbers, birthdates, call logs and other personal information.

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