San Diego – In a stunning admission, Mexican-American businessman Julio Santamaria pleaded guilty in federal court today to brokering spyware used to monitor political and business rivals.
According to court documents, Santamaria, 49, of Los Angeles, California, began his sinister operation in January 2016. He worked for a consortium that included Elite By Carga, selling interception and surveillance tools to private citizens and Mexican politicians while employed by Mexico’s PGR.
Santamaria admitted knowing their clients intended political use for the equipment, as seen in one case where he arranged for unauthorized access to a mayor’s Twitter and iCloud accounts. The accused also confessed that these hacking tools would be used for commercial and personal gain.
“Today’s guilty plea helps stem the proliferation of digital tools used for repression and advances the digital security of U.S. and Mexican citizens,” said U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman, who thanked the prosecution team and federal agents for their dedication to the case.
Grossman emphasized that cyberspace is not immune to American justice, as Santamaria will be held accountable for violating privacy rights. Special Agent in Charge Chad Plantz of HSI San Diego echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the commitment to protecting citizens from illegal intercepts for illicit gain.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the DOJ’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section.
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Key Facts
- State: California
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Cybercrime|Public Corruption
- Source: Official Source ↗
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