In a significant legal development, Wul Isaac Chol, a 27-year-old resident of Buffalo, New York, confessed before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr., to possessing over 15 illicit access devices with the intent to defraud, linked to his involvement in acquiring stolen data from Genesis Market.
Wul Isaac Chol, a Buffalo resident aged 27, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. on charges related to his possession of 15 or more unauthorized access devices, with the intent to defraud. This action, which took place under the oversight of U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross, carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles M. Kruly, responsible for overseeing the case, outlined that Genesis Market, an online marketplace, functions as a hub for compiling stolen data. This data includes computer and mobile device identifiers, email addresses, usernames, and passwords, extracted from compromised systems worldwide. The information is then bundled for sale on the platform, with transactions executed using virtual currencies like bitcoin.
The investigation revealed that between June 2019 and January 2021, Chol directed roughly $105.08 worth of bitcoin into a Genesis account under his control. These funds were subsequently utilized to procure 21 packages containing approximately 778 unauthorized access devices. Additionally, Chol confessed to illegally acquiring $25,164.00 from the New York State Department of Labor.
The case’s conclusion is credited to a thorough investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, spearheaded by Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia. Sentencing for Chol is scheduled for September 13, 2024, before Judge Sinatra.
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