LOS ANGELES (AP) — A former UCLA School of Medicine researcher has pleaded guilty to reading confidential private records of celebrities, high-profile patients and co-workers.
Huping Zhou pleaded guilty Friday in U.S. District Court to four counts of violating federal privacy provisions.
U.S. attorney’s office spokesman Thom Mrozek says the 38-year-old defendant committed the violations after he received a dismissal notice related to his job performance in 2003.
He was accused of spending three weeks accessing UCLA patient records more than 300 times, mostly involving well-recognized celebrities.
Sentencing is set for March 22, with a maximum possible penalty of four years in federal prison.