NASA, Space Gateway Support fail to make apology, Federal Court sends case back to State Court

NASA and Space Gateway Support have not issued an apology to identity theft victim David Welch after software engineer Kevin Landivar used a NASA computer to destroy Welch’s credit in July.

U.S. District Judge William Zloch rejected motions by Space Gateway Support LLC on Thursday, December 18th to move the civil case (number 08-46023) to Federal Court.

“The legal maneuvering has only prolonged the inevitable national security concerns while NASA still has not offered any apologies or relief,” says Welch. “Additionally, there is a 32-page report by NASA on this security issue which has not been released after more than two months.”

In the criminal case, the Florida State Attorney has charged Landivar with a count of identity theft, a third-degree felony that carries a five-year maximum prison sentence and up to $5,000.00 in fines. Landivar held high-level security clearance, according to Brevard County Sheriff reports.

Welch hired his own information technology expert, who was able to trace the identity theft to a NASA computer at the Kennedy Space Center. As a result of online loan applications that Landivar posted, Welch has suffered damages in excess of a quarter million dollars.

Brevard County Sheriff’s agents and NASA investigators have confirmed that the Kennedy Space Center’s Joint Base Operations Building was the location of the crime.