Ninth defendant in Obama records case pleads not guilty; trial set

The last of nine former Vangent employees accused of illegally accessing President Obama's student loan records pleaded not guilty Friday at his initial appearance in U.S. District Court.

Gary N. Grenell, 58, of Coralville, appeared before Judge Thomas Shields in Davenport and pleaded not guilty to one count of exceeding authorized computer access, a class A misdemeanor. His trial is scheduled for Aug. 2, the same date set for six other defendants.

Grenell was out of the country at the time of the indictment in May.

Two former Vangent employees, John Paul Phommivong, 30, of North Liberty, and Mercedes Costoyas, 53, of Iowa City, changed their pleas to guilty last month. They face up to one year in prison and up to a $100,000 fine. Their sentencing is scheduled on Sept. 24.

The nine former employees of Vangent Inc., a U.S. Department of Education contractor in Coralville, are accused of intentionally accessing Obama's student loan records without authorization while he was a Presidential candidate, President-Elect or President between July 2007 and March 2009.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

• June 25 --
• June 16 --
• June 14 --

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

• June 25 -- Lawyer: Client who viewed Obama records was bored
• June 16 -- Woman pleads guilty to accessing Obama student loan records
• June 14 -- Workers accused of accessing Obama records plead not guilty