Ex-Lynchburg Corrections Director Pleads Guilty to Computer Fraud, Obstruction
- Jennifer Peters shared confidential police records with her boyfriend, a supervised individual.
- Peters lied to federal investigators and destroyed evidence to hinder a fugitive investigation.
- Both Peters and Brendon Webber face sentencing later in 2024.
Former Corrections Head Admits to Misusing Police Database
Jennifer Peters, the former acting director of the Lynchburg Community Corrections & Pretrial Services Department (LCCPS), pleaded guilty in federal court on June 27, 2024, to multiple charges including conspiracy, obstruction, making false statements, and destroying evidence. The charges stem from Peters’ unauthorized access to the Lynchburg Police Department‘s Records Management System (RMS), a secure law enforcement database, which she used to provide confidential information to her then-boyfriend, Brendon Cole Webber.
Improper Relationship Led to Criminal Conduct
Court documents reveal that Peters, 43, of Madison Heights, Virginia, supervised Webber through her role at LCCPS. In August 2023, their professional relationship turned romantic while Webber was still under her agency’s supervision. Between November 11, 2023, and January 9, 2024, Peters accessed non-public police records and supplied them to Webber, who then shared the sensitive material with others. This activity was in violation of both department policy and federal law.
Obstruction and Evidence Destruction Amid Fugitive Search
The case escalated after Webber was charged with illegal firearm possession on November 30, 2023, prompting an arrest warrant and a fugitive search by the U.S. Marshals Service. Despite knowing about the warrant, Peters aided Webber in evading arrest by driving him from Lynchburg, Virginia, to Hughestown, Pennsylvania, and booking a hotel room at his request. During the investigation, Peters provided false information to federal law enforcement, claiming ignorance of Webber’s whereabouts and denying recent contact.
To further hinder the investigation, Peters concealed her cell phone by giving it to a friend and later disposed of it in a landfill to destroy potential evidence. Webber was ultimately apprehended in Pennsylvania on January 9, 2024.
Broader Legal Consequences
Webber has already pleaded guilty to related state and federal charges, including conspiracy to commit computer fraud, conspiracy to obstruct justice, and illegal firearm possession as a convicted felon. Peters and Webber are both scheduled for sentencing later this year. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Lynchburg Police Department, with prosecution led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Vito Iaia.
Implications for Public Trust
The incident raises significant concerns about oversight and ethical conduct within community corrections agencies. The unauthorized disclosure of law enforcement data not only compromised an ongoing investigation but also highlighted vulnerabilities in information security protocols. U.S. Attorney C. Todd Gilbert and FBI Acting Special Agent Stephen Farina jointly announced the plea, underscoring the seriousness with which federal authorities view breaches of public trust by officials.