Attorney general: Cybercrime ring run by teen stole $350K
A cybercrime ring run by an Orlando teenager that allegedly purchased $350,000 worth of merchandise using stolen online identities was shut down by state authorities, the Florida Attorney General’s Office announced Thursday.
The teenager allegedly used cryptocurrency to buy stolen personal information on the dark web on illicit websites. He then used the stolen information to open credit cards and bank accounts in the names of the individuals to whom the information belonged, according to the press release.
The teen would then use the credit cards and bank accounts to purchase more than $350,000 worth of merchandise, including ammunition and firearm parts, which he and the other members of the ring would then sell to Orlando-area pawn shops to get cash. Authorities identified five others who they said were involved.
The ring was shut down after a joint investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the state Attorney General’s Office of Statewide prosecution. The investigation began after FDLE got a complaint from a business owner suspecting the teenager stole $90,000.
The investigation found the teen criminally victimized more than 70 citizens and 10 online merchants.
“Under the leadership of Attorney General Ashley Moody, the Office of Statewide Prosecution has been a tremendous partner in bringing to justice criminals who prey on our citizens,” FDLE Commissioner Mark Glass said in a statement included in the press release announcing the bust. “I am extremely proud of this investigation and our FDLE Orlando team. With more than 70 victims and thousands of dollars in fraudulent merchandise, our agents and analysts team did an outstanding job putting the pieces together on this case.”
Moody included her own statement in the press release.
“The mastermind behind this complex cyber fraud scheme thought he could avoid detection by using stolen identities and cryptocurrency to conceal the crimes,” Moody said. “But through the diligent efforts of my Statewide Prosecutors and FDLE agents, the entire scheme was exposed and the criminals involved arrested.”
All six members of the ring face charges of racketeering and conspiracy to commit racketeering. The teenage mastermind faces additional charges of grand theft of $100,000 or more, extortion and criminal use of personal identification information of more than 30 persons. He could potentially face up to 135 years in prison if convicted.