2017-06-12 DOJ SDNY press_release 118 KB 5,063 chars

Florida Man Sentenced In Manhattan Federal Court To 18 Months In Prison For Attempting To Gain Unauthorized Access And Cause Damage To The Computer Network Of A Charitable Organization

Caption
United States v. Joon H. Kim, et al.
summary

Timothy Sedlak, a 44-year-old Florida man, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for making nearly 400,000 unauthorized login attempts to a New York charity’s network, disrupting its operations, and using hacked devices to target over 1,000 entities, though he failed to breach the charity and was ordered to forfeit 31 devices.

paragraph

Timothy Sedlak was sentenced to 18 months in prison for attempting to gain unauthorized access to the computer network of a New York-based charitable organization, making nearly 400,000 login attempts from two IP addresses linked to his Florida residence between June and July 2015. His actions impaired email and web services for over 10 employees, constituting reckless damage under federal law, though he never successfully breached the charity’s systems. Forensic analysis of 42 seized devices revealed 31 contained hacking tools and evidence of unauthorized access to at least 11 personal email accounts and over 1,000 other targets, including law firms and financial institutions; he was also ordered to forfeit those 31 devices and serve three years of supervised release.

narrative

Timothy Sedlak, a 44-year-old resident of Ocoee, Florida, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for attempting to gain unauthorized access to the computer network of a global charitable organization based in New York, making nearly 400,000 login attempts from two IP addresses tied to his home between June and July 2015. Although he never successfully breached the charity’s systems, his actions disrupted email and web-based applications for more than 10 employees, impairing the organization’s ability to conduct regular business. U.S. Secret Service agents seized 42 computers and electronic devices from his residence, 31 of which contained hacking software and digital artifacts indicating widespread cyber intrusions. Forensic examination revealed Sedlak had also successfully accessed at least 11 personal email accounts belonging to individuals unrelated to the charity, and made over 1,000 unsuccessful attempts to compromise entities including law firms, financial institutions, political organizations, and other charities. Sedlak told investigators he hoped to sell any information he obtained, but no data from the charity was stolen. He was convicted on February 23, 2017, on charges of unauthorized computer access and reckless damage, and was ordered to forfeit the 31 compromised devices and serve three years of supervised release after his prison term.

Enriched metadata

Scheme
cyber-fraud (100%)
Court
Southern District of New York
Outcome
convicted · 2017-02-23
Classified cyber-fraud(confidence 100%). No EDGAR filing fingerprint (criminal/DOJ-side scheme). detection rule →
Parties
Joon H. Kimtimothy sedlak
Keywords
organizationsedlakemail accountsgain unauthorizedunauthorized accesscomputer networkaccessmanhattan federalmonths prisoncharitable organizationemailgaincomputernetworkfederal months

Extracted insights

Entities 2
  • person Joon H. Kim
  • person timothy sedlak
Triples 12
  • Timothy Sedlak was sentenced to 18 months in prison
  • Timothy Sedlak attempted unauthorized access to computer network of a global charitable organization based in New York
  • Timothy Sedlak was convicted on February 23, 2017
  • Timothy Sedlak was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Ronnie Abrams
  • Timothy Sedlak made attempts to gain access to computer network systems of the Organization
  • Computers at IP Addresses subscribed to Timothy Sedlak made attempts from June 2015 to July 2015
  • One IP Address associated with Timothy Sedlak made attempts to log into approximately 20 email accounts between June 22 and July 8, 2015
  • Other IP Address associated with Timothy Sedlak made attempts to log into approximately 6 email accounts between July 8 and July 10, 2015
  • U.S. Secret Service executed search warrant at Sedlak Residence on September 11, 2015
  • U.S. Secret Service seized 42 computers and electronic devices
  • 31 devices from Sedlak Computers contained known hacking software and/or artifacts
  • Joon H. Kim announced sentencing of Timothy Sedlak
View original DOJ press releasejustice.gov
Extracted body text (5,063c)
Press Release Florida Man Sentenced In Manhattan Federal Court To 18 Months In Prison For Attempting To Gain Unauthorized Access And Cause Damage To The Computer Network Of A Charitable Organization Monday, June 12, 2017 Share FacebookLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. XLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. LinkedInLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. Email For Immediate Release U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York Joon H. Kim, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that TIMOTHY SEDLAK was sentenced in Manhattan federal court to 18 months in prison for attempting to access without authorization the computer network of a global charitable organization based in New York, New York (the “Organization”), and as a result of such conduct, recklessly causing damage to computers of the Organization. He was convicted on February 23, 2017, and was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Ronnie Abrams. Acting Manhattan U.S. Attorney Joon H. Kim said: “Timothy Sedlak used dozens of computers and electronic devices to unlawfully access others’ computer networks, making hundreds of thousands of attempts to steal information from one charitable organization. Although he was ultimately unsuccessful, Sedlak’s efforts impaired the organization’s ability to operate. I want to thank our partners at the Secret Service for their work to combat cyber attacks like this one.” According to the Superseding Information, other documents filed in Manhattan federal court, and statements made at various proceedings in this case, including the guilty plea: SEDLAK made hundreds of thousands of attempts to gain access without authorization to the computer network systems of the Organization, and in so doing, impaired the availability of the email accounts and web-based applications of more than 10 employees of the Organization. From June 2015 to July 2015, computers associated with two internet protocol addresses subscribed to SEDLAK at SEDLAK’s residence in Florida (the “IP Addresses”) made nearly 400,000 attempts to gain unauthorized access to the Organization’s computer network. As a result, numerous Organization employees experienced difficulty accessing their Organization email accounts, and were disrupted in their ability to conduct regular business functions. In particular, between June 22 and July 8, 2015, from one of the IP Addresses, there were approximately 195,000 attempts to log into approximately 20 email accounts of the Organization. Between July 8 and July 10, 2015, from the other IP Address, there were an additional approximately 195,000 attempts to log into approximately six email accounts of the Organization. SEDLAK has never been employed by the Organization, and was not authorized to access any email accounts of the Organization. On September 11, 2015, U.S. Secret Service (“USSS”) agents executed a search warrant at the Sedlak Residence, from which they seized 42 computers and electronic devices (the “Sedlak Computers”). The forensic examination of the Sedlak Computers revealed that 31 devices contained known hacking software and/or artifacts, indicating they were used in attempts to gain unauthorized access to a network. The forensic examination of the Sedlak Computers also revealed that at least 11 personal email accounts were successfully accessed without authorization. The email accounts belong to individuals in the United States and abroad, none of whom are known to be associated with the Organization. In addition, unsuccessful attempts to gain unauthorized access to over 1,000 entities and IP addresses were uncovered. SEDLAK targeted international and domestic victim entities, including charitable organizations, political organizations, law firms, financial firms, and businesses. When he was interviewed by USSS agents, Sedlak claimed that he hoped to sell the information he found. * * * SEDLAK, 44, of Ocoee, Florida, was sentenced to 18 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. The defendant’s right, title, and interest in specific property seized by the USSS – including 31 electronic devices – was ordered to be forfeited to the United States. Mr. Kim praised the investigative work of the United States Secret Service. The prosecution of this case is being handled by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Kristy J. Greenberg and Jennifer L. Beidel are in charge of the prosecution. Updated June 12, 2017 Topic Cybercrime Component USAO - New York, Southern Press Release Number: 17-170
OCR text (5,063c · plain-text · 99% conf)
Press Release Florida Man Sentenced In Manhattan Federal Court To 18 Months In Prison For Attempting To Gain Unauthorized Access And Cause Damage To The Computer Network Of A Charitable Organization Monday, June 12, 2017 Share FacebookLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. XLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. LinkedInLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. Email For Immediate Release U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York Joon H. Kim, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that TIMOTHY SEDLAK was sentenced in Manhattan federal court to 18 months in prison for attempting to access without authorization the computer network of a global charitable organization based in New York, New York (the “Organization”), and as a result of such conduct, recklessly causing damage to computers of the Organization. He was convicted on February 23, 2017, and was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Ronnie Abrams. Acting Manhattan U.S. Attorney Joon H. Kim said: “Timothy Sedlak used dozens of computers and electronic devices to unlawfully access others’ computer networks, making hundreds of thousands of attempts to steal information from one charitable organization. Although he was ultimately unsuccessful, Sedlak’s efforts impaired the organization’s ability to operate. I want to thank our partners at the Secret Service for their work to combat cyber attacks like this one.” According to the Superseding Information, other documents filed in Manhattan federal court, and statements made at various proceedings in this case, including the guilty plea: SEDLAK made hundreds of thousands of attempts to gain access without authorization to the computer network systems of the Organization, and in so doing, impaired the availability of the email accounts and web-based applications of more than 10 employees of the Organization. From June 2015 to July 2015, computers associated with two internet protocol addresses subscribed to SEDLAK at SEDLAK’s residence in Florida (the “IP Addresses”) made nearly 400,000 attempts to gain unauthorized access to the Organization’s computer network. As a result, numerous Organization employees experienced difficulty accessing their Organization email accounts, and were disrupted in their ability to conduct regular business functions. In particular, between June 22 and July 8, 2015, from one of the IP Addresses, there were approximately 195,000 attempts to log into approximately 20 email accounts of the Organization. Between July 8 and July 10, 2015, from the other IP Address, there were an additional approximately 195,000 attempts to log into approximately six email accounts of the Organization. SEDLAK has never been employed by the Organization, and was not authorized to access any email accounts of the Organization. On September 11, 2015, U.S. Secret Service (“USSS”) agents executed a search warrant at the Sedlak Residence, from which they seized 42 computers and electronic devices (the “Sedlak Computers”). The forensic examination of the Sedlak Computers revealed that 31 devices contained known hacking software and/or artifacts, indicating they were used in attempts to gain unauthorized access to a network. The forensic examination of the Sedlak Computers also revealed that at least 11 personal email accounts were successfully accessed without authorization. The email accounts belong to individuals in the United States and abroad, none of whom are known to be associated with the Organization. In addition, unsuccessful attempts to gain unauthorized access to over 1,000 entities and IP addresses were uncovered. SEDLAK targeted international and domestic victim entities, including charitable organizations, political organizations, law firms, financial firms, and businesses. When he was interviewed by USSS agents, Sedlak claimed that he hoped to sell the information he found. * * * SEDLAK, 44, of Ocoee, Florida, was sentenced to 18 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. The defendant’s right, title, and interest in specific property seized by the USSS – including 31 electronic devices – was ordered to be forfeited to the United States. Mr. Kim praised the investigative work of the United States Secret Service. The prosecution of this case is being handled by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Kristy J. Greenberg and Jennifer L. Beidel are in charge of the prosecution. Updated June 12, 2017 Topic Cybercrime Component USAO - New York, Southern Press Release Number: 17-170