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DePante

Pretexters avoid jail time after guilty plea in HP spying case

It only took about six and half years, but two defendants involved in Hewlett-Packard's infamous 2005-2006 spying campaign will actually be serving time for their crime -- sort of.

In San Jose, Calif., this morning, U.S. District Court Judge D. Lowell Jensen sentenced Joseph and Matthew DePante, a father and son team of former private investigators, to three years probation as part of a plea agreement sealed by the courts in February and unsealed last week.

As part of their probation, the DePantes, who both pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to falsely represent a Social Security … Read more

Accused pretexters enter mystery plea in old HP spy case

A father-and-son team of private investigators charged with crimes relating to Hewlett-Packard's infamous spy scandal entered a plea yesterday in federal court, but that plea was immediately placed under seal by the court.

It's unclear why the pleas were sealed, as related court documents have not been posted publically. But in general, a court has the right to seal documents if they contain issues of confidentiality that outweigh the public's right to access court proceedings and records. In this case, the parties requested the proceedings be sealed, and presiding U.S. District Court Judge D. Lowell Jensen … Read more

Plea hearing postponed in HP spy scandal redux

SAN JOSE, Calif.--More than four and a half years after a California judge effectively dismissed criminal charges against the major players in Hewlett-Packard's spying scandal, federal prosecutors are bringing the case back to life.

A father-and-son team of private investigators went before a judge today in the U.S. District Court in San Jose intending to plead guilty on charges relating to HP's controversial probe of boardroom leaks to journalists, which took place in late 2005 and early 2006.

Matthew DePante, 32, and his father Joseph DePante, 64, were arraigned last week on charges of conspiring to … Read more

Investigators charged in connection with HP spying case

A father-and-son team of private investigators was charged in federal court last week on charges of conspiracy to commit Social Security fraud in connection with Hewlett-Packard's 2006 spying scandal, a court representative confirmed today.

The charges filed Thursday against Matthew DePante and his father, Joseph DePante, in U.S. District Court in San Jose, Calif., stem from allegations that HP had indirectly hired their Florida-based private investigation firm, Action Research Group--a subcontractor to another firm--to probe boardroom leaks to journalists, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

In what evolved into an embarrassing boardroom drama, HP came under fire for … Read more