Women allegedly hack college computer system to change grades

NEWTOWN, Pa. (WPVI) -- The Bucks County District Attorney's office said Aleisha Morosco tried multiple times to change her microbiology grade.

After several failed attempts, she enlisted a friend's help, orchestrating a security breach at Bucks County Community College.

Authorities said while working at a medical office affiliated with Penn Medicine, Kelly Marryott accessed a faculty member's personal information and leaked it to her friend, Aleisha Morosco.

Desperate to change her grade, Morosco then used the stolen data to gain unauthorized access to BCCC's computer system. Officials said while inside the system, Morosco changed not just her grade, but several other student's grades in her microbiology class.

"The investigators were able to find out the IP address used to access the professor's account and change the grades," said Jovin Jose, ADA Bucks County. "That same IP address was used by one of the charged defendants."

The electronic footprint led investigators to Morosco and to her 37-year-old friend, Marryott.

"They got his personal information, and shouldn't have obtained the use for that purpose," said Jose. "We intend to prove at trial that they accessed his information to change grades, which is a crime."

Bucks County Community College issued this response to Action News:

"BCCC takes the integrity of its data systems very seriously, and all of it the grades altered in the breach were restored to their correct level."

Students on campus are stunned a classmate would go to these lengths to change a grade.

"It's crazy. You deserve the grade you get," said Emily Bombino. "And if you have an issue talk to your professor. Don't go around changing, stealing his information."

Both women face felony counts of unlawful computer use and identity theft. A court date is tentatively set for December.

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