Dariusz J. Prugar, 32, of Syracuse, New York, is going to prison for hacking into the computer network of his former employer, Pa Online, an internet service provider based in Enola, Pennsylvania. After being fired in June 2010, Prugar launched a calculated digital attack that crippled the company’s operations, erased critical data, and knocked service offline for over a week—targeting more than 5,000 residential and 500 business customers.
On March 2016, a federal jury in Harrisburg convicted Prugar after a one-week trial on charges of computer hacking and wire fraud. Today, U.S. District Judge Sylvia H. Rambo handed down a 24-month prison sentence, ordering Prugar to report to the Bureau of Prisons on December 27, 2016. Judge Rambo also mandated $26,000 in restitution to cover damages caused by the cyberattack.
According to U.S. Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, Prugar, once the network administrator for Pa Online, exploited his insider knowledge after his termination. Within days of being fired, he remotely infiltrated the ISP’s systems, deploying malicious programs that wiped files and directories. He also installed multiple backdoors—hidden access points—to maintain control and enable future intrusions.
The outage devastated Pa Online’s operations. Over a dozen former employees and outside consultants testified they spent days scrambling to restore service. Business customers lost access to essential tools, leading many to sever ties with the provider. The prolonged downtime and fear of further sabotage forced the company’s owner to dismantle and rebuild the entire network from scratch.
Investigators from the Federal Bureau of Investigation traced the breach back to Prugar through digital footprints left in the compromised system. The forensic trail, combined with testimonial evidence, painted a clear picture of retaliation masked as cyber sabotage. Prosecutors argued the attack wasn’t just technical vandalism—it was a deliberate effort to destroy the business from within.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael A. Consiglio and Carl D. Marchioli. Federal authorities are warning that insider threats like Prugar’s are increasingly dangerous, especially when former employees with administrative access turn hostile. The message is clear: unauthorized access is a federal crime, and retaliation through code carries real prison time.
Related Federal Cases
- Ukrainian Hacker Pleads Guilty to Massive Hacking Scheme · New Jersey
- Cryptocurrency Moguls Busted: Samourai Founders Accused of Laundering $2B · Pennsylvania
- NY Man Sentenced for Threats Over the Internet · Pennsylvania
- Luxury Auto Ring Busted in Charlotte · Mississippi
- Bronx Coke Runner Cuffed, 4 Years Inside · Pennsylvania
Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Cybercrime
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
