{"id":2462402,"date":"2025-07-16T11:16:02","date_gmt":"2025-07-16T15:16:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ex-soldier-pleads-guilty-to-hacking-and-extortion-plot-targeting-telecom-companies-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2025-07-16T11:17:32","modified_gmt":"2025-07-16T15:17:32","slug":"ex-soldier-pleads-guilty-to-hacking-and-extortion-plot-targeting-telecom-companies-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ex-soldier-pleads-guilty-to-hacking-and-extortion-plot-targeting-telecom-companies-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Ex-soldier pleads guilty to hacking and extortion plot targeting telecom companies &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">28<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fex-soldier-pleads-guilty-to-hacking-and-extortion-plot-targeting-telecom-companies-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2462402&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A former U.S. Army soldier, Cameron John Wagenius, 21, has pleaded guilty to hacking telecommunications companies&#8217; databases, stealing confidential records, and attempting to extort these organizations for $1 million. While <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/air-force-members-file-suit-after-being-denied-religious-exemption-from-covid-vaccine\/\" title=\"Air Force Members File Suit After Being Denied Religious Exemption From COVID Vaccine\">serving active duty<\/a> at Fort Cavazos in Texas, Wagenius accessed login credentials of at least 10 companies and used the stolen data to threaten victims both privately and publicly, including threats to release the data. He admitted to conspiracy to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/breaking-president-trump-gives-pardons-to-73-individuals-and-commutes-another-70-sentences-steve-bannon-is-included\/\" title=\"BREAKING: President Trump Gives Pardons to 73 Individuals and Commutes Another 70 Sentences \u2013 Steve Bannon Is Included\">commit wire fraud<\/a>, extortion related to computer fraud, aggravated identity theft, and previous unlawful transfers of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/former-baltimore-assistant-states-attorney-faces-federal-stalking-and-fraud-charges\/\" title=\"Former Baltimore Assistant State&#039;s Attorney Faces Federal Stalking and Fraud Charges\">confidential phone records<\/a>. Arrested last year and operating under the online alias &#8220;kiberphant0m,&#8221; he faces up to 27 years in prison and is scheduled for sentencing on October 6.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Ex-soldier pleads guilty to hacking and extortion plot targeting telecom companies<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2148610\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>A former U.S. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/army\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Army<\/a> soldier pleaded guilty Tuesday to hacking databases of telecommunications companies, stealing records, and asking for ransom for the stolen data, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/department-of-justice\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Department of Justice<\/a> said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The Justice Department said Cameron John Wagenius, 21, defrauded at least 10 organizations by obtaining login credentials and stealing their data in an attempt to extort $1 million. He committed these crimes as an active duty member of the military while stationed at Fort Cavazos, formerly known as Fort Hood, in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/Texas\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Texas<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3472222\/kilmar-abrego-garcia-back-in-court-as-second-deportation-stakes-rise\/\">Kilmar Abrego Garcia back in court as second deportation stakes rise<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3471401\/trump-efforts-to-end-tps-legal-battles\/\">Trump&#8217;s efforts to end TPS for multiple countries tied up in legal battles<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3472255\/america-first-legal-defends-doj-ending-grants-left-wing-groups\/\">America First Legal defends DOJ ending nearly $1 billion in grants to left-wing groups<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Wagenius pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, extortion in relation to computer fraud, and aggravated identity theft. He <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/colorado-man-sentenced-to-prison-for-synagogue-bomb-plot\/\" title=\"Colorado Man Sentenced To Prison For Synagogue Bomb Plot\">previously pleaded guilty<\/a> to two counts of unlawful transfer of <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >confidential phone records information<\/a> in connection with this conspiracy, the Justice Department said.<\/p>\n<p>The DOJ said that after Wagenius stole the data, he &ldquo;extorted the victim organizations both privately and in public forums,&rdquo; and used threats, including to &ldquo;post the stolen data the DOJ did not name.&rdquo; Wagenius&rsquo;s alleged victims in court filings.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/3418408\/gerry-connolly-dies-reignites-democratic-debate-age\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\"><strong>GERRY CONNOLLY&rsquo;S DEATH REIGNITES DEMOCRATIC DEBATE OVER AGE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>He faces a maximum of 27 years in prison. He will be sentenced on October 6.<\/p>\n<p>Wagenius operated under the online nickname &ldquo;kiberphant0m.&rdquo; He was arrested late last year.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_2148610\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"2148610\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ex-soldier admits hacking telecom firms, extortion scheme<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2910,"featured_media":2462403,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/slater-trump-antitrust.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[19536,59212,59087,11208,59213],"class_list":["post-2462402","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-cybersecurity","tag-ex-soldier","tag-extortion-2","tag-hacking","tag-telecom-companies"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/slater-trump-antitrust.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2462402","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2910"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2462402"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2462402\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2462406,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2462402\/revisions\/2462406"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2462403"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2462402"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2462402"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2462402"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}