(WNY News Now) – A Buffalo police detective faces federal charges after being accused of purchasing stolen credentials on the dark web and providing false statements to the FBI.
BUFFALO, N.Y. — Federal prosecutors announced the indictment of Buffalo Police Detective Terrance Michael Ciszek, 34, for allegedly purchasing stolen account information from an illicit online marketplace and lying to federal investigators. The charges, brought by a federal grand jury, include possession of unauthorized access devices with intent to defraud and making false statements to the FBI. Ciszek, also known by the online alias “DrMonster,” faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
The FBI began investigating Ciszek in 2018 as part of a larger probe into Genesis Market, a dark web platform known for selling stolen data from malware-infected devices worldwide. The data sold includes usernames, passwords, and other personal identifiers. Payments on Genesis Market were typically made using cryptocurrencies like bitcoin.
According to the indictment, Ciszek purchased 11 packages containing 194 stolen account credentials between March and July 2020. The purchases were linked to a bitcoin wallet associated with another dark web marketplace, UniCC, which trafficked in stolen credit card data. In April 2020, Ciszek allegedly recorded a video demonstrating how he concealed his identity online when buying stolen credit cards, describing UniCC as “an amazing place” to procure them.
In April 2023, Ciszek allegedly made false statements to the FBI, denying any involvement in the online purchases and suggesting that his nephew may have been responsible for acquiring the stolen credentials.
The case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles M. Kruly, with the FBI leading the investigation under Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia.
It is important to note that Ciszek is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Leave a Reply