PITTSBURGH—Alexander Waterland, 24, of
Loveland, Ohio, has been charged with making Internet threats and violating the
federal Computer Fraud and Abuse Act for posting on YouTube a video and a
comment which threatened the University of Pittsburgh, United States Attorney
David J. Hickton announced today.
According to the criminal complaint, the
video was posted on YouTube on April 26, 2012 by User ID AnonOperative13.
Titled “Anonymous Message to The University Of Pittsburgh,” the video claimed
that the computer hacking group known as Anonymous had hacked into the
University of Pittsburgh’s computer system and stolen records related to
students, faculty, and alumni. Part of the video contained a demand that the
University chancellor issue a public apology for not safeguarding students’
welfare or the stolen information would be publicly released. On May 2, 2012,
AnonOperative13 posted a comment about the video, which included information
about specific university employees, and stated terms and a deadline for the
apology.
Investigators were able to determine
that the identity of AnonOperative13 is Alexander Waterland, of 2000 Loveland
Madeira Road, Loveland, Ohio.
“These charges pertain to specific cyber
threats in April and May of this year that targeted the University of
Pittsburgh and caused disruption in campus operations,” stated U.S. Attorney
Hickton. “These threats were part of the series of threats received by the
University since February. The investigation is comprehensive and ongoing.”
Waterland was arrested this morning by
special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Pittsburgh and
Cincinnati Field Offices. He will make an initial appearance today at 1:30 p.m.
in federal court in the Southern District of Ohio.
The charges carry a maximum penalty of
seven years in prison, a fine of $500,000, or both. The charges announced today
are merely allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless proven
guilty in a court of law.
Assistant U.S. Attorney James T. Kitchen
is prosecuting this case for the government.
The FBI Pittsburgh Division and the
University of Pittsburgh Police Department conducted the investigation leading
to the charges against Waterland.
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