By: Richard L. Smith
A Brooklyn man has pleaded guilty to wire fraud after admitting he entered a New Jersey laboratory under false pretenses, vandalized equipment, and stole hard drives, according to a statement released by the U.S. Department of Justice. 
Eric Leykin, 33, appeared before U.S. District Judge Esther Salas in Newark federal court, where he admitted to orchestrating the scheme against a competing clinical reference laboratory.
According to court documents, Leykin, who was the CEO of a New Jersey-based laboratory, targeted a rival business in an effort to sabotage its operations.
On June 30, 2022, he purchased a prepaid mobile phone and contacted an employee of the victimized lab, falsely claiming to be a technician from a vendor that serviced their equipment.
Under this guise, Leykin arranged a service appointment for the following day.
On July 1, 2022, he arrived at the facility, gained unauthorized access by posing as a technician, and proceeded to destroy laboratory and computer equipment.
He also stole multiple hard drives from the lab’s systems. 
Wire fraud carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gain or loss from the crime, whichever is greater.
Sentencing is scheduled for July 22, 2025.