Former student indicted in school computer hacking

A former Glenbard South High School student is accused of changing some failing grades after hacking into District 87's computer system.

Abraham S. Ali, 18, is facing felony charges alleging computer tampering and computer fraud. An arrest warrant was issued Thursday after a DuPage County grand jury handed up the indictment.

Prosecutor Diane Michalak said Ali broke into the computer system from January to March 2009 to alter grades on assignments in two classes he was failing.

She said he gained access after downloading an Internet program that provided him a user name and the system's password.

"He apparently wanted to avoid doing homework," Michalak said. "He logged in and poked around during that three-month period and gave himself passing grades."

The activity caused the computer system to crash, she said, sparking an internal investigation that led to this week's indictment.

Glenbard High School District 87 later expelled Ali, who moved from Glen Ellyn and now lives in Chicago.

Ali faces a possible sentence of probation or up to five years in prison if convicted. He successfully completed a period of court supervision for a retail theft arrest last year at Fry's Electronics in Downers Grove.

Ali could not be reached for comment Friday. An attorney had not filed an appearance on his behalf, according to court records.