Hacker 'Guccifer' Extradited To US

Romanian cybercriminal Marcel Lehel Lazăr, 44, aka Guccifer, who was indicted for unauthorized access to protected computers, identity theft, and various cyberattacks, has been extradited from Romania to the US.

“Mr. Lazar violated the privacy of his victims and thought he could hide behind the anonymity of the Internet,” said US Attorney Dana J. Boente of the Eastern District of Virginia. “No matter where they are in the world, those who commit crimes against US citizens will be held accountable for their actions, pursued by our investigators and prosecutors and brought to justice.”

Guccifer faces charges for nine US cases:  three of wire fraud, three of unauthorized access to protected computers, and one each in identity theft, cyberstalking, and obstruction of justice. According to the accusation, from December 2012 to January 2014, Lazăr broke into the online of high-profile victims, including former members of US government and their families, and publicly released their personal information and photographs. He is also accused of impersonating a victim after compromising the victim’s account in July and August of 2013.

The FBI’s Washington Field Office, the DSS, and the US Secret Service in association with the Romanian National Police ,are probing this case.

For more information on the case, read this DOJ release.