Brazilian Man Charged With Making Extortionate Threats To Publicize Stolen Data Obtained By Unlawful Computer Intrusion

December 23, Newark, N.J. – A citizen and resident of Brazil was charged with making extortionate threats to publicize data stolen from the Brazilian subsidiary of a New Jersey company, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.

Junior Barros De Oliveira, 29, of Curitiba, Brazil was charged with four counts of extortionate threats involving information obtained from protected computers in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1030(a)(7)(B) and four counts of threatening communications in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 875(d) in an indictment unsealed today in Newark federal court.

According to the Indictment:

In March 2020, De Oliveira gained unauthorized access and exceeded authorized access to the computer systems of Victim 1-Brazil, the Brazilian subsidiary of a New Jersey company.  Exploiting this access, De Oliveira obtained confidential customer information relating to approximately 300,000 customers of Victim 1-Brazil.  In September 2020, De Oliveira began contacting U.S. representatives of Victim 1, including its CEO, in an attempt to extort money from Victim 1-Brazil.  De Oliveira demanded over approximately $3,000,000 in Bitcoin in exchange for keeping the stolen data confidential and not publicizing it.

Each of the four counts of making extortionate threats in relation to information obtained from protected computers carry a maximum prison term of 5 years, and a maximum fine of $250,000 or twice the value of any gain or loss, whichever is greater.  Each of the four counts of threatening communications carry a maximum prison term of 2 years, and a maximum fine of $250,000 or twice the value of any gain or loss, whichever is greater.

U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”)’s Newark Field Office, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Nelson I. Delgado.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney David E. Malagold of the Cybercrime Unit in Newark.

The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.