Darkode Criminal Forum Member Sentenced to 27 Months in Prison

PITTSBURGH - A resident of Indianapolis, Indiana, has been sentenced in federal court to 27 months imprisonment to be followed by one year supervised release, on his conviction of violating the CAN-SPAM ACT, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.

Senior United States District Judge Maurice B. Cohill, Jr. imposed the sentence on Phillip Fleitz, 31. Fleitz is one of 12 individuals charged in connection with a significant computer hacking forum known as Darkode, which has been dismantled.

According to information presented to the court, Fleitz knowingly used a protected computer to relay or retransmit multiple commercial electronic mail messages with the intent to deceive or mislead recipients.

Assistant United States Attorney James T. Kitchen prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

U.S. Attorney Hickton commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Phillip Fleitz.