A human beings accused of hackingTwitteraccounts in aBitcoinscheme plead shamefaced on Tuesday for his role in cyber stalking and computer hacking that exploit legion high - profilesocial mediaaccounts . Joseph James O’Connor , 23 , was extradited to the U.S. from Spain last month where he expect trial for harass , threatening , and extorting his victims .
O’Connor was first arrested in Spain in 2021 for his role in occupy ascendency of public figure of speech ’ chirrup account , total to 130 targeted account in totality including then candidate , now President Joe Biden , Kim Kardashian , andElon Musk . In July 2020 , O’Connor compose on Biden ’s account , “ All Bitcoin send to the address below will be direct back double ! If you send $ 1,000 , I will air back $ 2,000 . Only doing this for 30 instant . Enjoy!”Business Insiderreported .
Twitter responded by shutting down all verified account , and disabling the tweet lineament , as it try out to direct the hackers . “ We detected what we trust to be a coordinate social engine room fire by the great unwashed who successfully targeted some of our employees with access to interior system and peter , ” Twitter ’s backup teamwroteat the clip .
Image: AP News (AP)
An FBI investigation find thatO’Connor and his carbon monoxide gas - conspirators had get by to change control of some Twitter accounts to unauthorized usersfor a fee . In some cases , the group used the control for personal profit todefraudother Twitter users , and the investigation determine O’Connor had agree to purchase approach to one invoice for $ 10,000 , according to a DOJnews release .
O’Connor was also found to have blackmailed an unnamed public figure using privateSnapchatimages unless the dupe harmonise to place public messages relate to his on-line persona and stolecryptocurrencyworth $ 794,000 from a Manhattan - based crypto company .
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite , Jr. of the DOJ ’s Criminal Division say in the release , “ Like many criminal player , O’Connor tried to ride out anonymous by using a computer to hide behind stealth score and aliases from outside the United States . But this supplication shows that our researcher and prosecutor will identify , locate , and bring to justice such outlaw to ensure they face the consequences for their offense . ”
O’Connor plead guilty to cabal to trust computer intrusion and two counts of consecrate computer intrusions , each carries a maximal conviction of five eld in prison . He also plead shamed to extortive communications , which amounts to a maximum of two years in prison house , two counts of stalking for a maximum time of five years in prison each , and spend a penny threatening communicating , which carries an additional maximum sentence of five class in prison .
As part of his shamefaced supplication , O’Connor agreed to make up amends to all victims and forfeit just over $ 794,000 . He will be sentence on June 23 in a New York district court .
“ Today ’s guilty plea is verification that the FBI ’s scheme to counter cybercrime is work . It ’s also declarative of what can be accomplished when we mold tight with our partners to bring these culprit to justice and make the cyber ecosystem more unassailable , ” Assistant Director Bryan Vorndran of the FBI ’s Cyber Division said in the news release . “ O’Connor ’s extradition is as a warning to all dangerous cyber malefactor that the FBI will work tirelessly to encounter them and keep them accountable wherever in the world they may attempt to cover . ”
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