Tyler C. King, Computer Fraud, TX 2023

Tyler C. King, 31, of Dallas, Texas, is going to federal prison for 57 months after hacking into a New York-based technology company, stealing sensitive data, and laughing about it from his couch. Convicted of computer fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft, King’s digital break-in caused extensive damage to the company’s network, exposing emails of top executives, personnel files, and financial records.

The sentence, handed down by Senior U.S. District Judge Thomas J. McAvoy, includes 2 years of supervised release, a $15,000 fine, and $21,159 in restitution. King’s actions weren’t just a one-time breach — he repeatedly re-infiltrated the company’s system after being locked out, using password-cracking tools and stolen credentials from two overseas employees to bypass security protocols.

According to trial evidence from November 2019, King conspired with Ashley St. Andria, 31, of Irving, Texas, who was employed by the tech firm at the time. Together, they created fake administrator accounts to gain unauthorized access to the network. When the company shut those accounts down, King struck back — escalating the intrusion with increasingly sophisticated attacks.

U.S. Attorney Grant C. Jaquith didn’t mince words: “Tyler King hacked into a major technology company, damaged its systems, stole its data, and laughed about it, all from the comfort of his sofa in Texas. He will now serve 57 months in federal prison.” Jaquith called the sentence a warning to anyone who thinks cybercrime is a victimless joke.

FBI Special Agent in Charge Thomas F. Relford emphasized that this was no prank. “This kind of behavior is not a prank, and it isn’t harmless,” Relford said. “Today’s sentence should serve as a reminder that cybercrime is a serious threat and the FBI is prepared to go to any lengths to apprehend criminals like Mr. King.” The FBI’s Albany Field Office led the investigation.

King wasn’t done after his conviction. In June 2020, he pled guilty to obstructing justice by falsifying evidence ahead of his trial. His co-conspirator, Ashley St. Andria, had already pled guilty to computer fraud in August 2018 and was sentenced in March 2020 to time served and 2 years of supervised release. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Wayne A. Myers and Joshua R. Rosenthal.

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