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ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A North Carolina man who conspired with others to gain unauthorized access to government computer systems and online accounts belonging to several United States government officials was sentenced today to 5 years in prison. Justin G. Liverman, aka “D3F4ULT”, 25, of Morehead City, pleaded guilty on January 6. Liverman admitted to being a member of a conspiracy that called itself “Crackas With Attitude” to commit unauthorized computer intrusions, identity theft, and telephone harassment. According to the statement of facts filed with the plea agreement, beginning in November 2015, Liverman conspired to attempt to intimidate and harass U.S. officials and their families by gaining unauthorized access to victims’ online accounts, among other things. For example, Liverman publicly posted online documents and personal information unlawfully obtained from a victim’s personal account; sent threatening text messages to the same victim’s cellphone; and paid an unlawful “phonebombing” service to call the victim repeatedly with a threatening message. In November 2015, the conspiracy used that victim's government credentials to gain unlawful access to a confidential federal law enforcement database, where Liverman obtained information relating to dozens of law enforcement officers and uploaded this information to a public website. In total, the conspiracy targeted more than 10 victims and caused more than $1.5 million in losses to victims. A co-conspirator, Andrew Otto Boggs, 23, of North Wilkesboro, was sentenced on June 30 to two years in prison. Other members of the conspiracy are located in the United Kingdom and are being prosecuted by the Crown Prosecution Service. Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Andrew W. Vale, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, and Brian J. Ebert, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service’s Washington Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Gerald Bruce Lee. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Maya D. Song and Jay V. Prabhu, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph V. Longobardo prosecuted the case. The U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Eastern and Western Districts of North Carolina, and the FBI’s Charlotte Division provided significant assistance with the investigation. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:16-cr-313. Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edva/pr/man-sentenced-5-years-hacking-conspiracy-targeted-senior-us-government-officials