Rochester man pleads guilty after using illegal marketplace to buy stolen data

ROCHESTER, NY (WROC) – A Rochester man pleaded guilty to possessing 15 or more unauthorized access devices for fraudulent purposes after using an illegal online marketplace to purchase stolen data.

Since August 2018, the FBI has been investigating an illegal online marketplace known as Genesis Market; The operators of this market compile stolen data such as computer and mobile identifiers, email addresses, usernames and passwords from malware-infected computers around the world and package it for sale. in the market.”

Purchases made through Genesis Market are made using virtual currencies such as Bitcoin.

Between November 2019 and February 2021, 23-year-old Brandon Hall deposited approximately $224.50 worth of Bitcoin into his Genesis account, investigators say. Hall used the money to purchase 12 packages containing approximately 1,146 devices.

Hall faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. His sentence is scheduled to be announced on January 16.

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