(DailyChive.com) – A young U.S. Army soldier faces major charges after allegedly breaching sensitive data from telecommunications giant AT&T, implicating high-profile figures.
At a Glance
- U.S. Army soldier Cameron John Wagenius pleaded guilty to leaking phone records of high-ranking U.S. officials.
- Wagenius was arrested near Fort Cavazos, Texas, and charged with unlawful transfer of confidential phone records.
- Further investigations reveal involvement in a hacking group exploiting weak securities to extort companies.
- Prosecutors highlight the soldier as a flight risk based on his controversial internet searches.
Background and Arrest
In a significant case unraveling in Texas, Cameron John Wagenius, 21, has been charged with leaking confidential phone records affecting major figures such as Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. Wagenius was arrested near Fort Cavazos, Texas. He faces allegations related to the unlawful transfer of sensitive data.
Wagenius served as a communications specialist in South Korea and was reportedly part of a hacking group that extorted companies over stolen data. Prosecutors argue that Wagenius, under the alias Kiberphant0m, demanded half a million dollars from AT&T. His controversial searches suggest someone curious about non-extradition policies and potential defection to Russia.
Collaborators and Extortion Tactics
Wagenius is not believed to have acted alone. Evidence links him to two co-conspirators, John Erin Binns and Connor Riley Moucka. They are suspected of accessing data from over 150 Snowflake cloud accounts, demanding payments from companies like AT&T to delete them. The hacking group reportedly exploited weak securities and extorted at least $2 million.
“The government’s understanding is that, until his discharge from the Army is finalized (which is expected to happen in early March), he may only be released directly to the Army” – a footnote in the memo.
The seriousness of the charges is evident with Wagenius bragging about infiltrating 15 telecommunication providers and posting call records on dark-web forums. Investigators discovered over 17,000 stolen identity documents on his laptop and substantial cryptocurrency amounts.
Legal Implications and Charges
Prosecutors argue Wagenius poses a reasonable flight risk, highlighting searches related to defecting from the U.S., and communicating with an email tied to a foreign intelligence service. Arrested in December, Wagenius is facing charges that carry significant penalties, including up to ten years per count and fines of $250,000.
“While engaged in these criminal activities, Wagenius conducted online searches about how to defect to countries that do not extradite to the United States and that he previously attempted to sell hacked information to at least one foreign intelligence service” – the documents.
His discharge from the Army is underway, contested by prosecutors, advocating his retention due to his access to sensitive datasets. Meanwhile, the broader implications of this breach continue to resonate across the telecommunications industry.
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