Andrew Otto Boggs, aka “INCURSIO,” 22, of North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, and Justin Gray Liverman, aka “D3F4ULT,” 24, of Morehead City, North Carolina, were arrested today on charges related to their alleged roles in the computer hacking of several senior U.S. government officials and U.S. government computer systems.
According to charging documents filed with the court, Boggs and Liverman conspired with members of a hacking group that called itself “Crackas With Attitude.” From about October 2015 to February 2016, the group used “social engineering” hacking techniques, including victim impersonation, to gain unlawful access to the personal online accounts of senior U.S. government officials, their families, and several U.S. government computer systems.
In some instances, members of the conspiracy uploaded private information that they obtained from victims’ personal accounts to public websites; made harassing phone calls to victims and their family members; and defaced victims’ social media accounts. At least three other members of the conspiracy are located in the United Kingdom and are being investigated by the Crown Prosecution Service.
According to an Associated Press report:
“Earlier this year, British authorities arrested a 16-year-old boy who they said used the name “Cracka” to target Brennan and others. Indeed, the affidavit states that three British teens, ranging in age from 15 to 17, are members of the conspiracy.
The affidavit cites email exchanges in which Boggs tells another individual, “I want to carry on (Cracka’s) legacy if or when he is arrested. I know he’ll receive a harsh sentence because our government doesn’t like being embarrassed.”
According to the affidavit, Boggs and Liverman lived in their respective parents’ homes. They used the hacked accounts to send harassing messages to their victims. While Brennan is not named in the affidavit, he appears to be “Victim 1.” The affidavit states that Victim 1’s emails were released by WikiLeaks on Oct. 21, 2015, which corresponds with a WikiLeaks disclosure pertaining to CIA Director John Brennan [whose email was hacked].”
Boggs and Liverman will have their initial appearances at the federal courthouse in Alexandria next week in front of U.S. Magistrate Judge Theresa Carroll Buchanan.
Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Paul M. Abbate, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office; and Brian J. Ebert, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service’s Washington Field Office, made the announcement after Boggs and Liverman were arrested.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph V. Longobardo and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jay V. Prabhu and Maya D. Song are prosecuting the case on behalf of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. The U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Eastern and Western Districts of North Carolina, and the FBI’s Charlotte Division provided significant assistance with the investigation.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:16-mj-406.
A criminal complaint contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.