Jennifer Peters, the former acting director of Lynchburg Community Corrections & Pretrial Services (LCCPS), pleaded guilty in federal court to charges involving unauthorized access to a protected computer system, providing privileged information to her then-boyfriend, lying to federal investigators, and destroying evidence.
Peters, 43, of 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 state that in 2022 Peters supervised Brendon Cole Webber at LCCPS. She became acting director in 2023 and began a romantic relationship with Webber around August that year. Despite directly or indirectly supervising Webber’s probation, Peters used her position to access confidential law enforcement materials through the Lynchburg Police Department’s Records Management System (RMS), which is a protected database containing non-public information.
Between November 11, 2023 and January 9, 2024, Peters provided Webber with unauthorized access to RMS information. Webber subsequently shared this confidential material with others.
On November 30, 2023, authorities charged Webber with illegal firearm possession under Virginia law and issued an arrest warrant. Both Peters and Webber were aware of the active warrant and ongoing U.S. Marshal fugitive search for Webber.
In December 2023, following instructions from Webber, Peters drove him from Lynchburg to Hughestown, Pennsylvania in an effort to hinder the U.S. Marshal’s efforts. During this trip she also booked a hotel room at his direction.
When questioned by federal agents about her relationship with Webber and his whereabouts, Peters provided false statements. She claimed no recent contact with him and denied knowledge of his location or phone number. She also misled investigators about the location of her own cell phone; she had given it to a friend before later discarding it in a landfill after being interviewed by authorities.
Webber was apprehended in Hughestown on January 9, 2024.
Webber has previously pleaded guilty to state charges related to conspiracy to commit computer fraud and conspiracy to obstruct justice as well as unlawful firearm possession. In May he pleaded guilty federally to illegal firearm possession by a convicted felon and two counts of conspiracy against the United States.
Sentencing for both Peters and Webber is scheduled for later this year.
“C. Todd Gilbert, United States Attorney for the Western District of Virginia, and Stephen Farina, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division made the announcement.”
“The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the City of Lynchburg Police Department are investigating the case.”
“Assistant U.S. Attorney Vito Iaia is prosecuting the case.”
