Budapest Post

Cum Deo pro Patria et Libertate
Budapest, Europe and world news

Twitter Celebrity Hacker Pleads Guilty In US

Twitter Celebrity Hacker Pleads Guilty In US

Joseph James O'Connor, 23, entered his guilty plea in a New York court after being extradited from Spain on April 26.
A British man pleaded guilty Tuesday for his role in schemes to hack the Twitter accounts of celebrities like Barack Obama and Elon Musk and stealing $794,000 in cryptocurrency.

Joseph James O'Connor, 23, entered his guilty plea in a New York court after being extradited from Spain on April 26.

He was arrested nearly two years ago in Spain for the July 2020 hack of over 130 Twitter accounts, including those of Apple, Uber, Kanye West, Bill Gates, Joe Biden, Obama and Musk.

He and others in his hacking group hijacked the accounts and asked the owners' followers to send them bitcoin, promising to double their money.

In 2019 the group also used a technique known as sim card swaps to break their way into social media accounts of two media stars, not named in court filings but named in press reports as TikTok star Addison Rae and actress Bella Thorne.

The group threatened to release their private images and other information.

In addition, they used the same technique to steal $794,000 of virtual currency from a New York cryptocurrency company.

O'Connor, who went by the online name of PlugwalkJoe, pleaded guilty to multiple counts of computer intrusion, extortion, stalking, wire fraud and money laundering.

The most serious of the charges brings up to 20 years in prison.

In July 2021, Florida teenager Graham Ivan Clark, the alleged mastermind of the hacking group, was sentenced to three years in juvenile prison under a plea agreement.

Clark, only 17 when he was charged, was sentenced to the maximum allowed under Florida's Youthful Offender Act.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Volkswagen plans to shut at least three German plants, axe tens of thousands of jobs and slash pay by 10%
There's a reason the EU is putting huge tariffs on Chinese cars. They know you and your family want one.
Venice Extends Tourist Entry Fee Program to 2025
Vatican Synod Concludes with Support for Women in Leadership Roles
France just broke a crucial barrier for Russian deserters
Meta Enhances Scam Ad Detection with Facial Recognition
German Pizzeria Caught Selling Cocaine with Pizza
Russian Boxer Receives Lifetime Ban for Illegal Move in Boxing Debut
Biden Labels Trump a Threat to Democracy
North Dakota Woman Sentenced for Poisoning Boyfriend Over Illusory Inheritance
Russian Ambassador Claims UK's Proxy War in Ukraine
Proxy Resignation Services in Japan: A Growing Trend
NASA Study Explores Potential Microbial Life Beneath Mars' Ice
Cats: The Liquid-Like Pets
Xi Jinping Urges Troops to Prepare for Conflict Amid Taiwan Drills
Hamas Chief Yahya Sinwar Killed in Israeli Operation
Fruit Fly Gut Hormone Study Sheds Light on Human Longevity
Liam Payne's Tragic Death in Buenos Aires
Trump Criticizes Zelensky for Role in Ukraine-Russia War
Yahya Sinwar’s Death Marks Pivotal Moment in Gaza War
US Warns Israel of Potential Aid Cuts Over Gaza Assistance Delays
Meta Faces Legal Battle Over Teen Social Media Addiction
Russia's Call for a BRICS Financial System Alternative
Only A Third Of Europe's Surface Waters Are Healthy
Taiwan Records Unprecedented Chinese Military Activity Post-Drills
Israel Vows to Limit Retaliatory Strike on Iran to Military Facilities
British Influencer Dies Climbing Spain's Tallest Bridge
Four Killed in Tesla Electric Car Fire in France
Man with Weapons Arrested Near Trump Rally in California
China Conducts Military Drills Around Taiwan: A Strategic Warning
US Deploys THAAD Missile Defense System to Israel
DNA Evidence Suggests Christopher Columbus Was a Sephardic Jew
NASA Launches Europa Clipper Mission to Explore Jupiter's Moon
Tesla's Robotaxi Design Strikes Controversy
Poll Shows Trump Favored Over Harris in Handling Wars
Boeing to Reduce Workforce by 10% Amid Financial Strain
These robotic arms deliver a massage that can be customized to the user's needs
Prospect of UK Rejoining the EU Discussed by Peter Mandelson
Historic Floods Reshape Sahara Desert Landscape
Brazilian Man Arrested for Decades-long Abuse and Imprisonment of Family
EU Plans Sanctions on Iran for Missile Transfers to Russia
Nihon Hidankyo Wins Nobel Peace Prize
Donald Trump Amplifies Anti-Migrant Sentiments in Colorado Speech
Ireland Urges Israel to Cease Fire on UN Peacekeepers in Lebanon
Israel Marks Yom Kippur Under Multi-Front Conflict for First Time Since 1973
Elon Musk Unveils Tesla’s Optimus: The Most Ambitious Product Ever
China Faces Potential Overcapacity in AI Computing Power
China's EV Price War Reaches New Heights
Huawei Surpasses Apple in China Smartphone Sales for First Time in Nearly Four Years
William and Kate's First Public Appearance Post-Chemotherapy
×