PITTSBURGH – An Indianapolis man is facing the music after pleading guilty to violating the CAN-SPAM Act in connection with a major hacking forum known as Darkode.
Phillip Fleitz, 31, pleaded guilty to one count before Senior United States District Judge Maurice B. Cohill, Jr. at the federal court in Pittsburgh, announced United States Attorney David J. Hickton today.
Fleitz is one of 12 individuals charged in connection with the dismantling of Darkode, a significant computer hacking forum.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that Fleitz knowingly used a protected computer to relay or retransmit multiple commercial electronic mail messages with the intent to deceive or mislead recipients.
Judge Cohill scheduled sentencing for Nov. 24, 2015, at 2 p.m. The law provides for a total sentence of five years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both.
Assistant United States Attorney James T. Kitchen is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Phillip Fleitz.
Related Federal Cases
- Matthew James West, Computer Damage and Password Trafficking, Pennsylvania 2011 · California
- Ryan Collins, Unauthorized Access to a Protected Computer, Pennsylvania 2023 · California
- Ryan Collins, Unauthorized Access to a Protected Computer, Pennsylvania 2014 · Pennsylvania
- Adam Flanagan, Damaging Protected Computers, Pennsylvania 2016 · Pennsylvania
- Dariusz J. Prugar, Computer Hacking, Pennsylvania 2010 · Pennsylvania
Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Category: Cybercrime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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