WASHINGTON -- A veteran State Department worker pleaded guilty Monday to illegally viewing passport files of celebrities, the eighth current or former employee of the agency to admit to snooping.

Susan Holloman, 58, of Washington, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Alan Kay to one count of unauthorized computer access. Sentencing was scheduled for Jan. 21.

Holloman admitted that between Feb. 13 and Dec. 5, 2007, she repeatedly viewed the passport applications of 70 celebrities and their families, actors, professional athletes, musicians and other individuals identified in the news media.

The names of the celebrities were not released.

Since November 1980, Holloman worked full time for the State Department as a file assistant in the Bureau of Consular Affairs, and had access to official State Department databases, prosecutors said.

The application files include a photograph of the applicant as well date and place of birth, current address, telephone numbers, parent information, spouse's name and emergency contact information.

These confidential files are protected by the Privacy Act of 1974, and access by State Department employees is strictly limited to official government duties.

Four of the previous seven defendants were sentenced to a year's probation, while the others have not yet been sentenced.