CEO Admits to Fraudulently Entering New Jersey Lab, Destroying and Stealing Equipment

Defendant Posed as Technician to Sabotage Competitor’s Laboratory Operations

Millburn, N.J. – A Brooklyn man pleaded guilty in federal court to wire fraud after fraudulently entering a competing New Jersey laboratory, where he destroyed and stole critical equipment, U.S. Attorney John Giordano announced.

Eric Leykin, 33, the CEO of a clinical reference laboratory in New Jersey, admitted to orchestrating the deception and sabotage in an effort to disrupt the operations of a competing lab. He pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Esther Salas in Newark federal court and now faces up to 20 years in prison and a substantial fine.

Elaborate Deception to Access and Damage Competitor’s Lab

Court records reveal that on June 30, 2022, Leykin purchased and activated a prepaid mobile phone, using it to impersonate a technician from a vendor that the victim business regularly employed. Using this false identity, he contacted an employee of the victim business and scheduled a service appointment for the following day, July 1, 2022.

On the day of the appointment, Leykin arrived at the victim's facility under false pretenses, gained unauthorized access, and proceeded to sabotage the laboratory’s critical equipment. He destroyed laboratory and computer systems and stole multiple hard drives housed within the facility’s devices.

Potential Sentencing and Legal Consequences

Leykin’s guilty plea to wire fraud carries a maximum potential sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the amount of financial gain or loss caused by the crime, whichever is greater. His sentencing is scheduled for July 22, 2025.

The investigation, which led to Leykin’s guilty plea, was conducted by the FBI’s Newark Field Office, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly. Additional support was provided by the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, under Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens II, and the Millburn Police Department, led by Chief Brian Gilfedder.

Prosecution and Legal Proceedings

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew M. Trombly, Deputy Chief of the Cybercrime Unit, and Chana Y. Zuckier of the Bank Integrity, Recovery, and Money Laundering Unit.

Leykin’s case underscores the severe legal consequences of corporate sabotage, particularly in industries where laboratory integrity and data security are essential. His guilty plea marks a significant development in ensuring fair competition and preventing fraudulent activity within the clinical laboratory sector.