Salt Lake City IT employee arrested, accused of working with human trafficker
Oct 21, 2021, 10:58 AM | Updated: 11:30 am
Salt Lake City Police Department arrested 44-year-old Anthony Jack for his alleged involvement in several crimes, including multiple burglaries. FILE: KSL TV
SALT LAKE CITY — Salt Lake City Police in coordination with the Utah Attorney General’s office have arrested a Salt Lake City IT employee on Wednesday under the suspicion they worked with a Bountiful man recently charged with human trafficking.
Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall issued a statement Thursday morning.
“While I cannot comment directly on this ongoing investigation, I will say I am deeply troubled by the circumstances and information surrounding the arrest of a Salt Lake City Corporation IMS employee.”
The accused is 50-year-old Patrick Kevin Driscoll who is an Information Management Services (IMS) employee for Salt Lake City.
Driscoll was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on Wednesday for investigation of two counts of computer crimes, obstructing justice, exploiting prostitution, aiding prostitution, and theft.
Police documents said that Driscoll admitted to using his IT position to access secure Salt Lake City databases from his home.
Police believe Driscoll is an associate of Michael Joe Ricks. KSL.com’s Pat Reavy reported earlier this month, that Ricks was charged with 15 felonies and misdemeanors, including two counts of aggravated human trafficking for forced sexual exploitation and two counts of aggravated exploitation of prostitution.
Driscoll was served a search warrant. After searching Driscoll’s home, agents reported finding “electronic storage devices which contained confidential files, including sensitive law enforcement data.”
During the investigation into Ricks’ alleged crimes, a woman reported that she had been exploited by Driscoll. She claimed Driscoll would provide information to Ricks in exchange for sexual acts by sex workers such as the woman who made the report.
Police allege that Driscoll would provide the names of undercover officers who were specifically involved in investigating human trafficking in the area and police operations information in areas Ricks conducted his alleged crimes.
Police are asking that Driscoll be held without bail because they, “Have spoken with police and city administrators at Salt Lake City, and there is a concern that Driscoll not only has the knowledge, but the means, to shut down all city IT services should he desire. At this junction, city officials are unsure as to the extent or depth of the files that have been accessed.”
