Woman pleads guilty to accessing Obama’s student loan records

A woman pleaded guilty in Davenport federal court Wednesday to accessing Barack Obama's student loan records without permission.

Mercedes Costoyas, 53, of Iowa City, is one of nine people charged with exceeding authorized computer access.

The indictments were filed last month in U.S. District Court, Davenport. Each person faces up to a year in prison and a $100,000 fine, if convicted.

By pleading guilty, Costoyas still faces up to a year in prison. But her attorney, Christopher Hagenow, and prosecutor Joel Barrows said she likely faces zero to six months jail time.

The issue of her facing deportation was mentioned, but Judge James Gritzner said “that issue is for another court on another day.”

Her sentencing is set for Sept. 24. The remaining defendants are set for trial July 6.

Costoyas and her attorney declined to comment about her intentions for accessing Obama's student loan records.

The defendants worked for a Department of Education contractor in Coralville, Iowa, and each accessed the records on different dates between July 26, 2007, and March 13, 2009, court records state.

The others charged include Andrew J. Lage, 54, Patrick E. Roan, 51, and Sandra Teague, 54, all of Iowa City; Lisa Torney, 49, and Gary N. Grenell, 58, both of Coralville; Anne C. Rhodes, 32, of Iowa City; Julie L. Kline, 38, of West Branch, Iowa; and John P. Phommivong, 29, for whom no hometown was listed.

The records were accessed while Obama was a candidate for president, president-elect and after he took office, documents say.

By Brian Wellner