Founder of Oilpro.com charged with hacking into competitor’s database

The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the arrest of David Kent, founder of the Houston-based professional networking website Oilpro.com, on charges relating to computer hacking and wire fraud.

The DoJ alleges that Kent repeatedly hacked into a competitor's site to siphon off customer information and then tried to sell his company's services to that company.

Kent, 40, of Spring, Texas, formerly owned the business he allegedly hacked into, Website-1, but sold it in August 2010 for $51 million. He launched his new, similar business, Oilpro, in October 2013.

He was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit computer hacking and wire fraud (which carries a maximum term of five years in prison), and one count of wire fraud (which carries a maximum term of 20 years in prison).

He was arrested by FBI agents on Wednesday and was scheduled to appear in a Houston court.