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Romanian Hacker ‘Guccifer’ Charged with Email Account Hacking
A Romanian national, Marcel Lehel Lazar, also known as the hacker ‘Guccifer,’ has been charged with hacking into the personal email accounts of several high-profile victims.
According to the indictment, from December 2012 to January 2014, Lazar hacked into the email and social media accounts of victims, including a family member of two former U.S. presidents, a former U.S. Cabinet member, a former member of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, and a former presidential advisor.
After gaining unauthorized access to their email and social media accounts, Lazar publicly released his victims’ private email correspondence, medical and financial information, and personal photographs.
The indictment also alleges that in July and August 2013, Lazar impersonated a victim after compromising the victim’s account.
Lazar, 42, of Arad, Romania, was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of wire fraud, unauthorized access to a protected computer, aggravated identity theft, cyberstalking, and obstruction of justice.
An indictment is merely an allegation and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Peter V. Roman of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Dickey of the Eastern District of Virginia.
The case was investigated by the United States Secret Service, the FBI’s Washington Field Office, and the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Diplomatic Security, with assistance from the Romanian National Police.
Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Dana J. Boente for the Eastern District of Virginia, Special Agent in Charge Edward Lowery of the United States Secret Service Criminal Investigative Division, Assistant Director in Charge Valerie Parlave of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Bill A. Miller of the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Diplomatic Security made the announcement.
Key Facts
- State: Virginia
- Category: Cybercrime
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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