Ex-Cardinals exec Chris Correa gets 46 months in prison for hacking Astros

Steven J. Gaither

Ex-Cardinals exec Chris Correa gets 46 months in prison for hacking Astros image

A former baseball executive will spend the better part of the next four years in jail for hacking into another team's personnel database. 

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Former St. Louis Cardinals scouting director Chris Correa was sentenced Monday to 46 months in federal prison for breaking into the Houston Astros' files. According to court documents, he also must pay restitution of $279,038.65.

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Prior to sentencing by Judge Lynn Hughes, Correa read a letter in court apologizing for his actions, the Houston Chronicle reports .

Correa gained access to the email account of at least one Astros employee, according to court documents, and two accounts in the Ground Control database. He also obtained the team's rankings for draft-eligible players, a weekly digest focused on top prospects and proposed signing bonuses for some draft-eligible players.

Correa, 35, pleaded guilty in January to five counts of unauthorized access to a protected computer. His sentencing hearing had been delayed three times before Monday.

The Cardinals could stll face disciplinary action from MLB. Commissioner Rob Manfred has said he is hoping to obtain more information about the breach from Correa and the U.S. Attorney to help guide potential punishment for the Cardinals.

 

Steven J. Gaither