While cybercrime related to crypto has been around for some time, authorities seem determined in their efforts not to back down. According to reports, an Englishman from Norfolk has been sentenced for 20 months in jail and ordered to hand over more than PS400,000 worth of cryptocurrency. These funds were derived from illegal hacking services that he provided, and required “customers” in crypto to pay.
The nineteen-year-old man was identified as Elliot Gunton. He pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced at the Norwich Crown Court on Friday, the 16 th August. This hearing outlined the April 2018 seizure of Gunton’s laptop. It was more than one year ago. Police carried out a routine home visit and discovered compromising software. Gunton was required to obey a “Sexual Harm Prevention Order” issued to him in June 2016 for misdeeds related to his laptop.
Further investigation revealed that Gunton “offered compromised personal data of individuals for others to use for their criminal purposes.” Gunton also advertised his services with a $3,000 fee in Bitcoin. This was done in order to make it difficult to track his criminal activities. However, police investigations revealed that Gunton had been communicating with his cohorts online, and this led to some criminal activity.
Gunton was also tracked by police to an anonymous online Twitter account titled “@Gambler”. Gunton ineptly tweeted that “having lots money is cool…but having lots without people knowing it is cooler.” PS275,000 ($335,000), was seized by the police.
Detective Mark Stratford says:
Gunton was using the personal data of innocent people and businesses to make a substantial profit, but he didn’t succeed in hiding his ill-gotten gains that allowed us to seize hundreds upon thousands of pounds worth Bitcoin.
Gunton was immediately released after he was already on remand. Gunton was given a Community Behaviour Order that will last for three and a quarter years. Gunton is required to use the internet strictly, including incognito and private browsing. He must also notify the police if he has any cryptocurrency.
