Ryan Harris, Wire Fraud, Massachusetts 2012

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Internet Service Heist Lands Oregon Man in Prison

A 36-month prison sentence has been handed down to Ryan Harris, a 29-year-old Redmond, Ore., man, for his role in a scheme to help thousands steal internet service. Harris was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Mark L. Wolf in Boston, Massachusetts. This sentence marks the culmination of a seven-count wire fraud conviction, which was delivered by a jury on March 1, 2012.

The evidence presented at trial established that Harris was the owner of TCNISO, a company that distributed products enabling users to steal Internet service. Between 2003 and 2009, Harris developed and distributed hardware and software tools that allowed his customers to modify their cable modems so that they could disguise themselves as paying subscribers and obtain Internet service without paying.

The tools, which included a ‘packet sniffer’ dubbed ‘Coax Thief,’ would surreptitiously intercept Internet traffic so that the user obtained the media access control addresses and configuration files of surrounding modems. TCNISO and Harris also offered ongoing customer support, primarily through forums hosted on the TCNISO website, to assist customers in their cable modem hacking activities. Harris gained $400,000 to $1 million in sales revenue from his illicit business.

The case was investigated by the Boston Field Offices of the FBI and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation. It was prosecuted by Trial Attorney Mona Sedky of the Computer Crime & Intellectual Property Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam J. Bookbinder of the District of Massachusetts’s Computer Crimes Unit.

In addition to his prison term, Harris was sentenced to three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay a $50,000 fine and $152,370 in restitution.

The conviction and sentencing of Harris serve as a reminder of the serious consequences of engaging in cybercrime. As technology continues to advance, it is essential that individuals and companies take steps to protect themselves from these types of threats.

Harris’s scheme to help thousands steal internet service is a prime example of the devastating impact of cybercrime. His sentence should serve as a warning to those who would seek to engage in similar activities.

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