A fired Hewlett-Packard Enterprise worker who shut down Oregon’s Medicaid system computers for a day as retaliation for losing his job was sentenced Monday to a year of home detention, 500-plus hours of community service and four years of federal probation.
Hossein Heydari, 62, said his actions resulted from an “irrational outburst.’’ He pleaded guilty earlier to computer fraud.
“I can clearly see I didn’t think things through,’’ Heydari told the judge. “I am deeply remorseful and regretful.’’
Heydari , who lives in Maryland, had worked for Hewlett-Packard for 16 years, responsible for providing technical support for Oregon’s Medicaid Management Information System, which allows physicians, pharmacies and patients to exchange eligibility information for care, prescriptions and benefits provided by Medicaid and managed by the Oregon Health Authority.
Heydari had been assigned to the Medicaid systems for Oregon and three other states.
On Oct. 14, 2016, Hewlett-Packard gave Heydari notice that he would be laid off in two weeks as part of a “work-force reduction.’’
On Halloween 2016, Heydari intentionally shut down the Oregon Health Authority’s Medicaid computers for a day, according to federal prosecutors. The shutdown occurred after Heydari ran three computer commands, he told the court.
Prosecutor Quinn Harrington called Heydari’s one-day shutdown “calculated, spiteful’’ and malicious. The Oregon Health Authority wasn’t able to process services that day for 295 Medicaid recipients, he said.
“Users were not able to access patient information to verify disbursement of benefits for approximately eight hours,’’ Harrington wrote in a sentencing memo.
U.S. District Judge Michael H. Simon ordered Heydari to pay $75,972 in restitution. The judge placed him on GPS monitoring and home detention for one year. He can’t leave his home unless it’s to go to work, school, religious services, treatment or meetings with his lawyer, or to help his wife, who doesn’t drive, conduct her business.
He must complete 576 hours of community service within the next two years. He’s considering providing computer training to low-income people.
— Maxine Bernstein
Email at mbernstein@oregonian.com
Follow on Twitter @maxoregonian
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