LAFOURCHE PARISH, La. — The Louisiana Attorney General’s Office has announced the arrest of a Houma man following an investigation into alleged computer fraud involving a local business.
Attorney General Liz Murrill’s Louisiana Bureau of Investigation (LBI) began assisting the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office after Sheriff Craig Webre received a complaint from a business owner regarding unauthorized access to the company’s computer system.
According to investigators, a former employee — 30-year-old Garrett Garza of Greenway Avenue in Houma — is accused of unlawfully accessing the business’s computer network after his employment ended. Authorities allege Garza used the unauthorized access to obtain confidential information and monitor the company’s business activities.
During the investigation, LBI agents uncovered digital evidence linking Garza to multiple attempted and successful intrusions into the victim’s computer system. Officials say the compromised network contained more than $6 million in confidential information, which Garza allegedly accessed without authorization.
As a result of the findings, LBI agents secured an arrest warrant for Garza. He was taken into custody by the Houma Police Department and booked into the Terrebonne Parish Prison.
Garza faces the following charges:
14 counts of Attempted Computer Fraud (Louisiana R.S. 14:27 & 14:73.5) — Felony
4 counts of Computer Fraud (Louisiana R.S. 14:73.5) — Felony
Authorities confirm Garza has since been released on bond and is awaiting further proceedings related to charges in Lafourche Parish.
The investigation remains ongoing.
