Ex-Employee Charged With Hacking Into Hoboken Mayor Zimmer's E-Mail

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) -- A former Hoboken municipal employee is accused of breaking into Mayor Dawn Zimmer's e-mail account and forwarding them to other city officials.

Patrick Ricciardi appeared in federal court in Newark Wednesday. He didn't enter a plea and was given a court-appointed attorney. Bail was set at $100.000.

Ricciardi was employed by Hoboken as an information technology specialist.

Prosecutors allege Ricciardi used his position and administrative privileges to break into Zimmer's e-mail account and forward e-mails to at least three city officials. The complaint doesn't specify what was in the e-mails.

Ricciardi's charged with accessing a computer without authorization, intercepting electronic communications and disclosing the intercepted communications. Each carries a maximum five-year prison sentence.

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