Indiana

Indiana man pleads guilty in Darkode web spam criminal marketplace

PITTSBURGH (AP) — An Indianapolis man is the latest to plead guilty to participating in a cybercriminal marketplace where hackers schemed to cripple or steal information from computers and cellphones.

Thirty-one-year-old Phillip Fleitz entered his plea Wednesday in federal court in Pittsburgh. He faces up to three years in prison when he’s sentenced Nov. 24 for conspiring to violate a law that makes it illegal to send out spam.

Authorities say Fleitz was part of a three-person team who used software to bombard people’s cellphones with spam and break into routers in developing nations. Prosecutors say the team made $2,000 to $3,000 a week for their work.

Fleitz was one of 12 people who used Darkcode.com to market their hacking activity to be charged in the U.S. and the third to plead guilty.

Related posts

Elkhart non-profit helping residents after recent tornado

Network Indiana

Opioid settlement fund fuels anti-addiction battle in Indiana

Joe Ulery/Indiana News Service

Indiana students face stricter attendance rules, new reading requirements

Joe Ulery/Indiana News Service