Pierluigi Paganini
March 18, 2023
U.S. law enforcement arrested this week a US man that goes online with the moniker “Pompompurin,” the US citizen is accused to be the owner of the popular hacking forum BreachForums.
The news of the arrest was first reported by Bloomberg, which reported that federal agents arrested Conor Brian Fitzpatrick from Peekskill, New York.
The man was arrested by the feds at his home around 4:30 p.m. Wednesday.
“Federal agents have arrested a Peekskill, New York, man they say ran the notorious dark web data-breach site “BreachForums” under the name “Pompompurin.”” reads the post published by Bloomberg. “Conor Brian Fitzpatrick was arrested by a team of investigators at his home around 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, an FBI agent said in a sworn statement filed in court the next day. Fitzpatrick is charged with a single count of conspiracy to commit access device fraud.”
In an affidavit filed with the District Court for the Southern District of New York, FBI Special Agent John Langmire said that at around 4:30 p.m. on March 15, 2023, he led a team of that made a probable cause arrest of Conor Brian Fitzpatrick in Peekskill, NY.
“When I arrested the defendant on March 15, 2023, he stated to me in substance and in part that: a) his name was Conor Brian Fitzpatrick; b) he used the alias ‘pompompurin/’ and c) he was the owner and administrator of ‘BreachForums’ the data breach website referenced in the Complaint,” Langmire wrote.
According to the Westchester News12 website, the agents spent hours inside and outside of the suspect’s home, they were seen removing several bags of evidence from the house.
The man has been charged with soliciting individuals with the purpose of selling unauthorized access devices.
Fitzpatrick was released on a $300,000 bond signed by his parents, he is scheduled to appear before the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia on March 24, 2023.
The defendant must: submit to supervision by and report for supervision to the PRETRIAL SERVICES As Directed; he was ordered to surrender any passport.
The man has been restricted from contacting his co-conspirators, getting medical or psychiatric treatment, and using unlawfully narcotic drugs or other controlled substances unless prescribed by a licensed medical practitioner.
The BreachForums hacking forum was launched in 2022 after the law enforcement authorities seized RaidForums as a result of Operation TOURNIQUET.
pompompurin always confirmed that he was ‘not affiliated with RaidForums in any capacity,’
The law enforcement authorities have yet to shut down the website, another admin of the forum that goes online with the alias “Baphomet” announced that he is taking the control of the platform.
Baphomet added that he believes that the feds haven’t had access to the infrastructure.
“I also since that point have been constantly monitoring everything and going through every log to see any access or modifications to Breached infra. So far nothing like that has been seen.” said Baphomet. “My only response to LE, or any media outlet is that I have no concerns for myself at the moment. OPSEC has been my focus from day one, and thankfully I don’t think any mountain lions will be attacking me in my little fishing boat.”
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(SecurityAffairs – hacking, BreachForums)
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