(WNY News Now) – A Buffalo man faces prison time for his role in acquiring stolen data from a notorious online black market.
BUFFALO, N.Y. – Wul Isaac Chol, 27, of Buffalo, NY, was sentenced to 20 months in federal prison for his involvement in purchasing stolen data from Genesis Market, an online hub for illegal access to personal information. U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr., handed down the sentence after Chol was convicted of possessing 15 or more unauthorized access devices with the intent to defraud.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles M. Kruly explained that Genesis Market packages stolen data, such as device identifiers, email addresses, usernames, and passwords from malware-infected devices around the world, for sale. The purchases, including those made by Chol, are completed with virtual currencies like Bitcoin.
Between June 2019 and January 2021, Chol deposited over $100 worth of Bitcoin into his Genesis account, using it to buy 21 packages containing a total of 778 unauthorized access devices. In addition to these illicit purchases, Chol admitted to fraudulently obtaining over $25,000 from the New York State Department of Labor.
The FBI, led by Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia, conducted the investigation that ultimately led to Chol’s conviction.
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