Bitcoin receipts: Wiscasset Police Dept.

To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Maine Freedom of Access Act ("FOAA"), I hereby request the following records:

All receipts for a purchase of bitcoin and all invoices for any outside consultant hired to provide advice or assistance in purchasing bitcoin. As detailed in the Booth Bay Register, the Wiscasset Police Department needed to purchase bitcoin in order to pay its ransomware attackers: http://www.boothbayregister.com/article/sheriff-s-office-prepared-after-bitcoin-ransom/51070.

I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as we believe this request is in the public interest, as suggested but not stipulated by 1 M.R.S.A. § 408(6). The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, processed by a representative of the news media/press and is made in the process of news gathering and not for commercial usage.

In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 10 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Kevin Collier

Thank you for your response. Can you clarify for me whether the Wiscasset Police Department paid bitcoin to remove ransomware from any of its networks or computers, as indicated in the Booth Bay Register (http://www.boothbayregister.com/article/sheriff-s-office-prepared-after-bitcoin-ransom/51070)?