'Syrian Electronic Army' goon extradited from Germany now coughs to hacking, extortion - The Shadow remains at large
An associate of the self-styled Syrian Electronic Army has been sentenced to five years in an American prison for his part in running a cyber extortion scheme against businesses around the world.
On Wednesday, Syrian-born Peter Romar, 37, pled guilty in a Virginia district court to conspiring to unlawfully access computers and to receive extortion proceeds from the hacking. Romar, who was extradited from Germany where he had emigrated, will be sentenced on October 21. He faces a maximum of five years in prison.
"Today's guilty plea is by the latest international offender who believed that he could operate from abroad, behind the perceived veil of anonymity offered by the Internet, and use computers to threaten the security of our citizens and their property," said assistant attorney general John Carlin. "It shows that the Department of Justice and the FBI stand behind their pledge to hold accountable foreign actors who assist in the hacking of US victims."
