Investigations

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St. Petersburg man pleads guilty to hacking into government websites and to selling stolen credit card numbers

Summary

Benjamin Stark pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Washington, DC to charges of unauthorized access to a government computer resulting in damage and to access device fraud, in connection with trafficking in stolen credit card numbers on the internet. As one of the “Deceptive Duo,” Stark and a colleague hacked into and defaced various websites and exposed a sensitive database containing information on FAA and TSA inspectors and results of security screenings at various airports. Damages caused by the “Deceptive Duo” totaled over $135,000. Stark also used the internet to traffic in stolen credit card information. Stark is scheduled to be sentenced on September 24, 2004. OIG investigated this case with the FBI.