TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – A shocking case of cyberstalking and identity theft has come to light in the Sunshine State. Michael Daniel Rubens, a 31-year-old former resident of Tallahassee, pleaded guilty to charges of cyberstalking, unauthorized access to a protected computer, and aggravated identity theft.
According to the plea agreement, Rubens engaged in a campaign of cyberstalking against dozens of young women between January 2012 and January 2015. He hacked into their online accounts, including email and social media, and stole photographs and personal information. The stolen data was then used to create pornography, which was posted on social media websites and a revenge pornography website that was recently shut down by the FBI.
Rubens admitted to targeting victims, including an employee of a local restaurant he frequented, an out-of-town colleague, and acquaintances in his office building. He even went after his former girlfriend and her colleagues, high school classmates, and the victims’ relatives or friends. In one case, Rubens’ laptop contained 470 files with over 5,000 references to a single victim.
The victims were left afraid to conduct any online activities, with some deleting their social media presence entirely. In some instances, the conduct also affected the victims’ personal relationships.
Rubens faces a maximum of five years in prison for each of the 12 counts of cyberstalking and unauthorized access to a protected computer. He also faces a mandatory two years in prison for the aggravated identity theft charge, to be served consecutively to any other sentence. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for February 25, 2016, at 11:00 a.m. at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee, Florida.
The case was investigated by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations, the Florida State University Police Department, and the Leon County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jason S. Beaton.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is committed to protecting and serving the citizens of the Northern District through the ethical, vigorous, and impartial enforcement of the laws of the United States.
For more information, contact Amy Alexander, Public Information Officer, at (850) 216-3854 or amy.alexander@usdoj.gov.
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Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: Cybercrime, Sexual Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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