Telesforo Aviles, Hacking Home Security Footage, Texas 2024

A former ADT security technician has pleaded guilty to repeatedly hacking into his customers' video feeds, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Prerak Shah.

Telesforo Aviles, a 35-year-old former ADT employee, pleaded guilty to computer fraud on Thursday before Magistrate Judge David Horan.

According to plea papers, Mr. Aviles admits that contrary to company policy, he routinely added his personal email address to customers' 'ADT Pulse' accounts, giving himself real-time access to the video feeds from their homes.

In some instances, he claimed he needed to add himself temporarily in order to 'test' the system; in other instances, he added himself without their knowledge.

Mr. Aviles took note of which homes had attractive women, then repeatedly logged into these customers' accounts in order to view their footage for sexual gratification, he admits.

Plea papers indicate he watched numerous videos of naked women and couples engaging in sexual activity inside their homes.

Over a four and a half year period, Mr. Aviles secretly accessed roughly 200 customer accounts more than 9,600 times without their consent, he admits.

Mr. Aviles, who waived indictment and was charged via an information, now faces up to five years in federal prison.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation's Dallas Field Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sid Mody is prosecuting the case.

Acting U.S. Attorney Prerak Shah said, 'This defendant, entrusted with safeguarding customers' homes, instead intruded on their most intimate moments.'

FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge Matthew J. DeSarno added, 'The defendant used his position of employment to illegally breach the privacy of numerous people.'

We urge the public to practice cyber hygiene with all their connected devices by reviewing authorized users and routinely changing passwords.

If you become the victim of a cybercrime, please contact the FBI through ic3.gov or 1-800-CALL FBI.

Defendant: Telesforo Aviles

Criminal Charges: Computer Fraud

City and State: Dallas, Texas

Date: Thursday (no specific date mentioned, but assumed to be in 2024)

Sentence or Outcome: Up to five years in federal prison

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndtx/pr/adt-technician-pleads-guilty-hacking-home-security-footage