Photo credit: www.foxnews.com
A former employee of Disney World, Michael Scheuer, has been sentenced to three years in federal prison following his conviction for hacking into the theme park’s menu system. His actions included removing crucial peanut allergy information, inserting offensive language, and altering font styles.
At 40 years old and hailing from Winter Garden, Florida, Scheuer is also required to forfeit his computers and pay approximately $687,776.50 in restitution to the impacted parties. These details were reported by Fox 35.
Scheuer entered a guilty plea to the charges earlier this year in January after working for Disney as a menu production manager. In this role, he oversaw the creation and distribution of restaurant menus, including their digital formats. His employment was terminated on June 13, 2024.
DISNEY WORLD EMPLOYEE CONVICTED FOR HACKING MENUS AND ENDANGERING GUEST SAFETY
According to a federal complaint, the manner of Scheuer’s termination was described as “contentious” and far from amicable. Allegations included that he made unauthorized changes to menus that posed risks to public health and safety.
The complaint outlines that Scheuer altered pricing and included profanity, alongside sending multiple login requests that hindered over a dozen employees from accessing their accounts. Although the changes did not appear in printed or digital menus, it was estimated that the damages incurred exceeded $150,000.
LAWSUIT REVEALS DISNEY’S FAILURE TO SAFEGUARD GUESTS FROM INAPPROPRIATE CONDUCT
In a further investigation, the FBI conducted a raid on Scheuer’s residence on September 23, seizing at least four computers. During initial interviews with FBI agents, Scheuer denied any wrongdoing, suggesting that Disney was attempting to distort the narrative surrounding his termination, which he described as being related to concerns for his well-being.
His attorney, David Haas, noted that Scheuer faced a medical emergency that affected his ability to work at Disney. “He experienced a medical incident that led to his suspension,” Haas explained. “Despite his inquiries regarding the nature of his suspension, the situation evolved into a termination without clear justification.”
This lack of communication from Disney prompted Scheuer to file a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Haas expressed his intention to robustly present Scheuer’s perspective in future legal proceedings.
Scheuer was initially charged with a count of knowingly transmitting a program, code, or command to a protected computer, as well as intentionally causing damage exceeding $5,000 without proper authorization.
Source
www.foxnews.com