Alexandria, Va. – Trent James Russell, a 34-year-old former resident of Arlington, has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for illegally accessing protected healthcare information and attempting to obstruct a federal investigation by destroying evidence. The sentencing followed his July 31 conviction by a federal jury.
According to court records, Russell worked for an organization involved in coordinating organ donations, giving him access to sensitive electronic medical records. Prosecutors revealed that in January 2019, he remotely accessed and took a screenshot of the protected health information of a federal official—a serious violation of privacy.
When Russell’s access was revoked on February 10, 2019, he took steps to cover his tracks. Within two days, he formatted his hard drive, hoping to erase evidence. Days later, during an FBI interview, Russell falsely claimed his cellphone had been stolen and handed over a secondary hard drive rather than the main one. These actions were flagged as deliberate attempts to hinder the investigation.
This case highlights the critical importance of safeguarding sensitive medical data and the serious consequences for those who exploit access to such information. Russell’s actions represent an alarming breach of trust, especially in roles involving public health and data security.