A Butler woman pleaded guilty in federal court Wednesday to wrongfully disclosing the health records of more than 100 UPMC network patients.

Linda S. Kalina, 61, could face 11 years in prison, a fine of $350,000 or both when she is sentenced in June, according to a news release.

The charge stems from Kalina's work at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and then the Allegheny Health Network, where she admitted to wrongfully obtaining health information in violation of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), from March 30, 2016, through Aug. 14, 2017, relating to 111 individual patients.

More than a dozen victims in the case attended court for Kalina's guilty plea. They declined to comment, pending the complete resolution of the case.

Senior District Judge Arthur Schwab asked Assistant U.S. Attorney Carolyn Bloch, who prosecuted the case, to present some of the evidence that the government would have used if the trial had gone to court.

Bloch recounted that Kalina was fired from a Butler company, Frank J. Zottola Construction, in January 2016 after working there for 24 years. In March 2017, Kalina was hired by UPMC to work as a patient information coordinator for Tri Rivers Musculoskeletal Centers, which has several offices throughout the region, including one in Butler.

Her job gained her access to the personal medical records of patients throughout UPMC's network. On June 13, 2017, an employee with the construction company from which Kalina was fired told the government that Kalina was using her medical access to harass employees at the construction company. Around that time, UPMC officials became aware of Kalina's breach of information and fired her.

“Angered by her dismissal at UPMC, she threatened to further disseminate gynecological information to (the victim's) son, husband and mother,” Bloch said.

Schwab then asked Kalina if she agreed with what Bloch said. She did.

Schwab noted that if any victims wish to make a request for restitution, they must do so by May 1.