A former U.S. Army soldier pleaded guilty Tuesday to hacking databases of telecommunications companies, stealing records, and asking for ransom for the stolen data, the Department of Justice said.
The Justice Department said Cameron John Wagenius, 21, defrauded at least 10 organizations by obtaining login credentials and stealing their data in an attempt to extort $1 million. He committed these crimes as an active duty member of the military while stationed at Fort Cavazos, formerly known as Fort Hood, in Texas.
Wagenius pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, extortion in relation to computer fraud, and aggravated identity theft. He previously pleaded guilty to two counts of unlawful transfer of confidential phone records information in connection with this conspiracy, the Justice Department said.
The DOJ said that after Wagenius stole the data, he “extorted the victim organizations both privately and in public forums,” and used threats, including to “post the stolen data the DOJ did not name.” Wagenius’s alleged victims in court filings.
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He faces a maximum of 27 years in prison. He will be sentenced on October 6.
Wagenius operated under the online nickname “kiberphant0m.” He was arrested late last year.