A former acting director of the Lynchburg Community Corrections & Pretrial Services Department (LCCPS) has pleaded guilty in federal court to charges related to unauthorized computer access, obstruction, making false statements, and destruction of evidence.
Jennifer Peters, 43, from Madison Heights, Virginia, admitted guilt to one count each of conspiracy, obstruction of a proceeding before a United States Agency, making false representations, and destruction of evidence.
Court documents show that Peters was employed by LCCPS in 2022 and supervised Brendon Cole Webber during his probation. In 2023, after becoming Acting Director of LCCPS, Peters began a romantic relationship with Webber while continuing her supervisory role over him. Through her position at LCCPS, Peters had access to non-public law enforcement information stored in the Lynchburg Police Department’s Records Management System (RMS), which is a protected computer system containing confidential material.
Between November 11, 2023 and January 9, 2024, Peters and Webber conspired for Webber to access RMS information without authorization. Peters provided Webber with confidential material from the RMS system. Webber then shared this information with others.
On November 30, 2023, authorities charged Webber with unlawful possession of a firearm under Virginia law and issued an arrest warrant. Both Peters and Webber were aware of the active warrant and an ongoing U.S. Marshal’s fugitive search for Webber.
In December 2023, following instructions from Webber, Peters drove him from Lynchburg to Hughestown, Pennsylvania in an effort to obstruct the U.S. Marshal’s mission. During their travel, she also booked a hotel room as directed by Webber.
When questioned by federal investigators about her involvement with Webber, Peters made several false statements regarding their contact and his whereabouts. She claimed not to have seen him since December and denied knowledge about his location or contact details. She also misled investigators about the location of her own cell phone; after being interviewed by law enforcement officials she retrieved her phone and disposed of it in a landfill to destroy potential evidence.
Webber was apprehended in Hughestown on January 9, 2024.
Webber previously pleaded guilty at the state level to conspiracy charges involving computer fraud and obstruction of justice as well as unlawful firearm possession. He later pleaded guilty in federal court in May to illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and two counts of conspiracy against the United States.
Sentencing for both individuals is scheduled for later this year.
“C. Todd Gilbert, United States Attorney for the Western District of Virginia,” announced the case along with Stephen Farina, Acting Special Agent in Charge for the FBI’s Richmond Division.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation together with the City of Lynchburg Police Department are handling the investigation into these events.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Vito Iaia is prosecuting this case.
