Edward Majerczyk, 29, of Chicago, is going to federal prison for a phishing scheme that breached over 300 Apple iCloud and Gmail accounts—many belonging to Los Angeles–based celebrities. The hack, part of the fallout from the 2014 ‘Celebgate’ photo leaks, culminated in a nine-month prison sentence handed down yesterday by U.S. District Judge Charles P. Kocoras in Chicago.
Majerczyk pleaded guilty in September to one count of unauthorized access to a protected computer, a felony under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. Though originally charged by federal prosecutors in Los Angeles, the case was transferred to the Northern District of Illinois, where Majerczyk admitted to crafting fake emails that mimicked security alerts from internet providers. These messages redirected victims to malicious websites designed to harvest login credentials.
Between November 23, 2013, and August 2014, Majerczyk used the stolen usernames and passwords to infiltrate private email accounts, pulling sensitive data including intimate photos and videos. At least 30 of the 300 compromised accounts belonged to high-profile figures in the entertainment industry, according to court documents filed by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan White and Vicki Chou.
“This defendant engaged in a computer hacking scheme that not only gave him access to his victims’ computers, it also gave him access to the most personal details of their lives,” said former U.S. Attorney Eileen M. Decker. “This was a deep intrusion into the victims’ privacy and a violation of federal law.”
FBI Los Angeles Assistant Director in Charge Deirdre Fike emphasized the psychological toll of such breaches: “Mr. Majerczyk manipulated hundreds of victims by tricking them into providing access to their accounts, including high-profile victims whose information was specifically targeted.” She warned the public to treat unsolicited emails with extreme skepticism.
Judge Kocoras ordered Majerczyk to pay $5,700 in restitution to one victim whose private images were published online. He must surrender to begin serving his sentence by February 27. While the case emerged from the wider Celebgate investigation, authorities confirmed Majerczyk did not distribute any of the leaked photos. The FBI continues to investigate related cyber intrusions.
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Key Facts
- State: California
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Cybercrime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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