British hacker Joseph O’Connor, widely known as PlugwalkJoe in the online realm, has been sentenced to five years in a United States prison. O’Connor’s conviction stems from his involvement in a high-profile cryptocurrency theft, where he managed to steal approximately $794,000 worth of digital assets through a SIM swap attack on a cryptocurrency exchange executive back in April 2019.
The renowned hacker was apprehended in Spain in July 2021 and was subsequently extradited to the United States on April 26, 2023. In May, he pleaded guilty to an array of charges, including conspiracy to commit computer intrusions, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
The recent statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York highlighted O’Connor’s prison sentence and also mandated three years of supervised release. Additionally, O’Connor was ordered to pay $794,012.64 in forfeiture.
Although the identity of the targeted crypto executive remains undisclosed, O’Connor successfully gained unauthorized access to the individual’s accounts and computing systems through the SIM swap technique. Exploiting this access, he orchestrated the theft and subsequently employed various methods to launder the stolen cryptocurrency.
The funds were funneled through numerous transfers and transactions, with a portion of the illicit proceeds being converted into Bitcoin using cryptocurrency exchange services. Ultimately, a cryptocurrency exchange account under O’Connor’s control received a portion of the stolen digital assets.
Notably, O’Connor’s sentence encompasses charges related to the major Twitter hack that occurred in July 2020. During this high-profile incident, O’Connor and his accomplices utilized social engineering tactics and SIM-swapping attacks to compromise around 130 prominent Twitter accounts, along with two sizeable accounts on TikTok and Snapchat. Exploiting their access, the hackers executed a scheme to defraud other Twitter users and even sold access to compromised accounts.
During the course of their criminal activities, O’Connor attempted to extort the victim on Snapchat by threatening to publicly release private messages unless they promoted his online persona through their posts. Furthermore, O’Connor engaged in stalking and threatening behavior towards another victim. He orchestrated multiple swatting attacks on this individual by falsely reporting emergencies to authorities, thereby putting innocent lives at risk.
The conviction and sentencing of Joseph O’Connor, alias PlugwalkJoe, signify a significant victory in the ongoing battle against cybercriminals. It serves as a reminder that those who engage in hacking, fraud, and money laundering will face severe consequences for their actions. Authorities worldwide continue to prioritize combating cybercrime and safeguarding the integrity of digital ecosystems.
