Sources: Fed Probe of ‘Anonymous’ Hackers Continues; ‘LulzSec’ Case Could Yield New Indictments in HBGary Case

Posted on | May 24, 2012 | 17 Comments

Federal officials pursuing a wide-ranging investigation of the so-called “Anonymous” hacking conspiracy are beginning to track connections in wake of their success in cracking the related international ring of computer pirates known as “LulzSec,” sources close to the probe have told me exclusively.

Less than two weeks ago, convicted hacker Jeremy Hammond, 27 – who previously served two years in prison for a scheme to steal credit card information of donors to the conservative group Protest Warrior – pleaded not guilty in a New York City court on charges related to the “LulzSec” ring. Hammond is one of five Americans charged in the case.

That alleged international criminal network began to be dismantled by investigators within months of Texas journalist Barrett Brown emerged as a public spokesman for “Anonymous.” Last month, Brown’s apartment was raided by the FBI.

Brown has not been charged with any crime, and many supporters of the “Anonymous” hacker network have expressed suspicion that Brown has been cooperating with law enforcement officials. Court documents in the “LulzSec” case indicate that prosecutors are relying on information obtained from unindicted co-conspirators.

The accused hackers were known by several online aliases, as Mathew J. Schwartz of Information Week reported May 15:

The federal indictment also charged four other men — Ryan Ackroyd (a.k.a. kayla, lol, lolspoon), Jake Davis (a.k.a. topiary, atopiary), Darren Martyn (a.k.a. pwnsauce, raepsauce, networkkitten), and Donncha O’Cearrbhail (a.k.a. Palladium) with having participated in hacking attacks against InfraGard Atlanta, the Fox Broadcasting Company’s X-Factor participant database, Sony Pictures Entertainment, HBGary Federal, and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), among other sites.

The HBGary element of the “Anonymous” probe may be yielding new indictments soon. One possible suspect in the case is said to have begun fearing that he is currently under FBI surveillance, a person familiar with the case told me Thursday.

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Category: Barrett Brown, Crime

Comments

17 Responses to “Sources: Fed Probe of ‘Anonymous’ Hackers Continues; ‘LulzSec’ Case Could Yield New Indictments in HBGary Case”

ThePaganTemple
May 24th, 2012 @ 10:53 pm

So Barrett Brown might actually be a hero? What next, the Presidential Medal of Freedom? Nah, I still think they spied on him and used him to track their suspects without his knowledge. He wasn’t charged with a crime, and probably won’t be, just because he’s not involved with any criminal activity. He’s nothing but a spokesman who happened to know a few names that could be traced.
Dianna Deeley
May 24th, 2012 @ 11:37 pm

I don’t really know much about Barrett Brown, but he seems (from the videos I’ve seen) to be a bit fickle in his affections.
Rob Crawford
May 24th, 2012 @ 11:38 pm

Brown is a “hero” if you consider turning state’s evidence to avoid paying for your own crimes “heroic”.

Big Boy Barrett didn’t want to trade Momma’s basement for Bubba’s Bunk, so…
Rob Crawford
May 24th, 2012 @ 11:39 pm

“One possible suspect in the case is said to have begun fearing that he is currently under FBI surveillance…”

Duh. They *ALL* are. They just don’t know it yet.

They’d better start dialing their lawyers and the Feds — it’s gonna be a race to see who is #3 behind Barrett and… well… that would be telling.
Dianna Deeley
May 24th, 2012 @ 11:49 pm

Seriously, this is something I know too little about – I haven’t really followed it. But it sure looks like everyone and his brother rolls over as quickly as they can, going just by what I read in the Wall Street Journal.
Adjoran
May 25th, 2012 @ 12:05 am

These hacker types don’t fare well in prison – even federal country club prisons, where they become the girlfriends of bankers, brokers, and congressmen.

But to imply Barrett Brown is a snitch, ratting out the cool kids he so aspired to be one of, is just not believable. Why, it would taken a sniveling, cowering little mama’s boy of a be-yotch to rat out his friends to save his own ass and . . . oh. Never mind.
Scott Jacobs
May 25th, 2012 @ 12:21 am

It is as it has always been…

The toughest guys you meet on the internet are the biggest pussies once you get face to face with them.
JeffS
May 25th, 2012 @ 12:23 am

No Bubba’s Bunk? In exchange for 3 hots and a cot, all at tax payers’ expense?

Methinks that Barrett Brown would jump at the chance — as I recall, he wasn’t too particular about who he slept with.
Scott Jacobs
May 25th, 2012 @ 12:26 am

Aww… Poor Donncha O’Cearrbhail… He’d just gotten engaged, too…

Pardon me while I go snicker uncontrollably in the corner…
Evi L. Bloggerlady
May 25th, 2012 @ 4:08 am

I find it hard to see Barrett Brown as a hero. A snitch? Sure. Anything for Barrett Brown.
Evi L. Bloggerlady
May 25th, 2012 @ 4:09 am

Is there any Brett Kimberlin connection in this?
Bob Belvedere
May 25th, 2012 @ 8:09 am

FBI Man: What do you want to do now?

Toothless CIA Man: [grinning] He got a real pretty mouth ain’t he?

FBI Man: That’s the truth. I bet you can squeal like a pig. Weeeeeeee!

Barrett: Weee!

FBI Man: Weeeeeeee!

Barrett: Weee!
ThePaganTemple
May 25th, 2012 @ 11:13 am

What state’s evidence, that he knew a few people on-line?
ryanmsummers
May 27th, 2012 @ 8:55 pm

im so tired of trying to shout it
lulzsec is form las cruces i wathched them draw the monacled guy
a professor used to lead them then things got wierd after they killed ryan wyatt, thinking he was me and disbanded 2 weeks later.
they released his name in there last release, the booze allen, to scare him into a local truce
but they still continue there childish torture of at least 3 people including me, thats what a lulz really is not a hack.
now u know
jeanett green fbi
jeff cumbie APD CIT
McCord LCPD
please help
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