In a dramatic dawn raid on Thursday, federal agents apprehended a 25-year-old man hailing from Alabama, a pivotal figure in a nefarious scheme that culminated in a substantial breach of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s X account back in January. This cyber intrusion not only rattled the financial world but also sent the price of bitcoin soaring by more than $1,000, as revealed by the Department of Justice.
The individual, identified as Eric Council Jr., faces serious allegations, including conspiracy to commit aggravated identity theft and the fraudulent use of access devices, according to the DOJ’s statements.
Council allegedly collaborated with unidentified accomplices to orchestrate a brazen hack, issuing a deceptive tweet purportedly from the SEC’s chairman on January 9. The message declared, “Today the SEC grants approval for #Bitcoin ETFs for listing on all registered national securities exchanges,” igniting a fervor in the cryptocurrency markets.
As the story unfolds, stay tuned for breaking updates as this high-stakes cybercrime case develops.
