A man from High Point, North Carolina, has been sentenced to 13 months in prison and three years of supervised release for hacking into the Snapchat account of a Fort Bragg soldier, selling her nude images online, and scamming her friends for money. Patrick Marquez Black, 30, pleaded guilty to two counts of computer fraud and abuse and one count of wire fraud.
The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Michael Easley, said the case targeted hackers and cybercriminals who invade privacy for cash.
Court records indicate that Black hacked into the soldier’s Snapchat account in June 2019, changed the password, and locked her out.
He then took nude images and videos from her account and sold them online. He also pretended to be the soldier and asked her friends to send money to help pay for a fake emergency.
Black used the woman’s account to get access to other Snapchat accounts and steal nude videos and images of other victims, according to prosecutors.
Prosecutors said this went on for three years.
The victim paid more than $300 to “repay” friends who had sent money to Black.
According to prosecutors, “due to the actions of this defendant, nude images and videos of the victim were seen by co-workers, friends, and family members.
She was threatened by people who believed that they had loaned her money, and she had not paid them back.” Black was ordered to pay more than $1,500 that prosecutors say he stole in the scheme.
