From a lenient sentence to a three-year imprisonment for the leading figure of BreachForums.
In a landmark ruling, Conor Brian Fitzpatrick, the founder of BreachForums - the largest English-language data-breach forum ever - has been sentenced to three years in prison. The sentencing, which took place on an unspecified date, comes after Fitzpatrick pleaded guilty to a series of offenses related to BreachForums management and possession of child pornography.
Under Fitzpatrick's watch, BreachForums became a hub for over 14 billion individual records, making it one of the most significant cybercrime platforms in history. His crimes included facilitating the vast collection and sale of stolen data and the possession of child sex abuse material.
Fitzpatrick, who went by the alias Pompompurin on the forum, earned a staggering $698,714 from his activities on BreachForums. His ill-gotten gains were a result of selling access to stolen data and other criminal activities that took place on the platform.
The FBI has been working tirelessly to dismantle criminal marketplaces like BreachForums, and this sentencing demonstrates their commitment to pursuing the full range of actors who run these platforms. Brett Leatherman, assistant director of the FBI's Cyber Division, stated, "Today's sentencing demonstrates that anyone who helps others profit from theft, fraud, and other cybercrimes is not out of reach."
Fitzpatrick's initial sentence in 2024 was 20 years of supervised release and a time-served sentence of 17 days. However, the appeals court deemed his initial sentence as "substantively unreasonable." Prosecutors in Virginia won their appeal on September 16, 2024, paving the way for the more stringent sentence.
The human cost of Fitzpatrick's collection of child sexual abuse material is incalculable, according to the US Attorney. His actions have had a devastating impact on countless victims, and this sentence serves as a reminder that cybercrime will not be tolerated.
Fitzpatrick's defense lawyer successfully argued that prison would offer no correctional value due to his autism diagnosis. However, the court ultimately decided that the severity of his crimes warranted incarceration.
Fitzpatrick was arrested in 2023 at his parents' home in Peekskill, New York. This week, he pleaded guilty to three additional charges: one count of access device conspiracy, one count of access device solicitation, and one count of possession of child sexual abuse material.
The current jurisdiction of Conor Brian Fitzpatrick is the United States, and he will serve his three-year sentence in a prison within the country's borders. Erik S. Siebert, US Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, stated, "Fitzpatrick personally profited from the sale of vast quantities of stolen information. Today's sentencing sends a clear message that such criminal activity will not be tolerated."
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