Prosecutors in court filings this week accused a recently arrested Salt Lake City information technology employee of taking advantage of his position and “knowingly endangering the lives of countless law enforcement officers” when he traded sensitive police information for sex.
Patrick Kevin Driscoll, 50, was charged in 3rd District Court with two counts of computer crimes (interference with critical infrastructure), three counts of obstruction of justice, and one count of pattern of unlawful activity, all second-degree felonies.
“The damage Driscoll has done to both the safety and integrity of the Salt Lake City Police Department is beyond measure,” according to charging documents filed by the Utah Attorney General’s Office.
He also faces one count of exploitation of prostitution, a third-degree felony, and aiding prostitution, a Class A misdemeanor. He was arrested last week and is being held without bail in the Salt Lake County jail.
Driscoll is accused of making a deal with Michael Joe Ricks, 49, who was charged on Oct. 7 with multiple counts of aggravated human trafficking, aggravated exploitation of prostitution and multiple drug-related charges.
In accordance with the deal, according to a probable cause statement, Driscoll gave Ricks sensitive police information via encrypted messages, including names and phone numbers of undercover officers working to investigate prostitution and human trafficking crimes. Driscoll also reportedly notified Ricks about undercover operations happening at apartments or hotels where Ricks allegedly operated.
In exchange, at least two victims told police they were “forced to perform sex acts” with Driscoll, who was referred to as “The Guardian,” according to the probable cause statement.
Driscoll told investigators that Salt Lake City had employed him for about four years, and that he had been assigned to the city’s police department for about seven or eight months. In a statement last week, Salt Lake City Police Chief Mike Brown clarified that the city IT employee was not a member of the Salt Lake City Police Department.
“The allegations, as described in court documents, are very concerning,” Brown stated.
Driscoll initially denied accessing any police files, but later admitted he did so from his home, according to the probable cause statement. Driscoll told investigators that the information he gave Ricks was “false and not legitimate.”
Driscoll also admitted to “multiple commercial sex transactions” with the two victims, charging documents state.
After serving a search warrant at Driscoll’s home, police found an electronic storage device that contained “sensitive data” from Salt Lake City police, including the identities of undercover officers, information about their vehicles, gang member intelligence files, commercial sex worker information “and other intelligence that is not available to the public,” charging documents state.
Driscoll demonstrated a “flagrant disregard for the safety and well-being of law enforcement and the vulnerable victims in this case” in exchange for his own financial and personal gain, the documents state.
His conduct will impact “multiple law enforcement agencies, costing thousands of dollars, and requiring hundreds of man hours to audit and repair,” according to the charges.
The investigation into Driscoll’s “cyber intrusion” is ongoing, and more charges are possible, according to prosecutors.
