Lock Haven man indicted on internet social media hacking charges
ERIE, PA – A Lock Haven man is among six residents of Pennsylvania and one resident of North Carolina recently indicted by a federal grand jury in Erie on charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, fraud in connection with unlawful computer access, aggravated identity theft, and receipt and possession of child sexual abuse material.
Luke R. Swinehart, 22, of Lock Haven is among those named in the sixteen-count indictment, according to United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan.
A Justice Department release said the law provides for a maximum of 20 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both for Swinehart. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the seven defendants.
According to the indictment presented to the court, the seven co-defendants conspired to hack into Snapchat accounts for the purpose of removing explicit images and videos depicting the victim account holders. After obtaining the explicit material, the co-defendants would then share the images and videos with each other and others online unbeknownst to the victim account holders.
“As alleged, the defendants used deception and hacking techniques to unlawfully access social media accounts so that they could steal, hoard, and trade explicit and otherwise private content of hundreds of unsuspecting victims,” U.S. Attorney Olshan said. “This Office and our law enforcement partners will reach far and wide to identify and prosecute those who victimize our communities via the internet, especially when they seek to victimize our most vulnerable population—our children.”
“The seven people charged today exploited their victims and engaged in a predatory behavior that will not be tolerated,” said FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Mike Nordwall. “Hacking into social media accounts, stealing intimate pictures of unsuspecting victims and then selling and trading them in online forums is nothing short of reprehensible. These victims were re-victimized multiple times as their personal pictures were recirculated. We believe there is an extensive network of victims who still haven’t been identified.”
The sixteen-count indictment named six others, in addition to Swinehart:
Richard Alan Martz, Jr., 33, Meadville, Pennsylvania will face a maximum total sentence of 69 years in prison and a fine of $1.75 million
Dylan Michael Miller, 30, West Mifflin, Pennsylvania will face 34 years in prison and a fine of $1 million
Christopher Clampitt, 33, Clemmons, North Carolina will face 22 years in prison and a fine of $500,000
Edward Grabb, 31, Jeanette, Pennsylvania will face 22 years in prison and a fine of $500,000
Michael Yackovich, 27, West Newton, Pennsylvania will face 29 years in prison and a fine of $1 million
Karlin Terrell Jones, 26, Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania will face 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
Assistant United States Attorney Christian A. Trabold is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation leading to the indictment.
