A 17-year-old has been arrested and charged in a massive Twitter hack that affected many high-profile users, including Barack Obama, Kim Kardashian, Elon Musk, and Kanye West.
Two other people have been arrested.
Graham Ivan Clark, who was called the ‘mastermind’ of the breach, faces 30 felony charges that will be prosecuted in state court.
The breach saw popular Twitter users hacked and used to request for donations of bitcoin to a wallet controlled by the hijacker.
According to authorities, hackers managed to collect over $100,000 in bitcoin.
Prosecutors also announced charges against 22-year-old Nima ‘Rolex’ Fazeli from Florida and 19-year-old Mason ‘Chaewon’ Sheppard from Bognor Regis.
Fazeli is charged with helping the intentional access of a secured computer while Sheppard is charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering, intentional access to a secured computer, and conspiracy to commit fraud.
US Attorney David L. Anderson of the Northern District of California said: “There is a false belief within the criminal hacker community that attacks like the Twitter hack can be perpetrated anonymously and without consequence.
“Today’s charging announcement demonstrates that the elation of nefarious hacking into a secure environment for fun or profit will be short-lived.”
Hillsborough State Attorney Andrew Warren also said: “This ‘Bit-Con’ was designed to steal money from regular Americans all over the country, including right here in Florida.
“This massive fraud was orchestrated right here in our backyard, and we will not stand for that.”
Warren added: “This defendant lives here in Tampa, he committed the crime here, and he’ll be prosecuted here.”
Clark, who had just graduated from high school, was booked into prison on Friday.
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